An Open Letter to Governor Mike DeWine
Governor DeWine,
Every day Ayman Soliman sits in Butler County Jail, Ohio’s conscience shrinks a little smaller. He is not a criminal. He is not a threat. He is an imam, a chaplain, a man who comforted children in Cincinnati hospitals and fled Egypt after being tortured for daring to tell the truth. Deport him, and you are signing his death warrant. That is not speculation. That is certainty.
You know this. You’ve spent decades in public life, preaching compassion, defending the vulnerable, reminding Ohioans that leadership means doing the right thing when it’s hard. That was the Mike DeWine who stood up for Haitian immigrants in Springfield. That was the Mike DeWine who told Ohioans during COVID that protecting life came before politics. But where is that Governor now? Because all we see is silence.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Richard Jones has turned Butler County into his own petty fiefdom, crowing that he’ll ignore you if you dare to speak up. He says you’re not his boss. He says your office means nothing. Governor, that isn’t just an insult to you — it’s an insult to every Ohioan who thinks their vote still matters. When sheriffs become kings, governors become spectators.
You don’t have to accept that. You don’t have to let a man who lives on soundbites dictate the moral direction of this state. You have leverage — in contracts, in influence, in the sheer weight of your office. Use it. Tell ICE that Ohio will not warehouse their detainees for profit. Tell Butler County that their jail will not be a holding pen for injustice. Tell Ayman Soliman that Ohio is not in the business of sending chaplains to die.
Governor, history is watching. And so is every parent who ever walked the halls of Cincinnati Children’s. So is every faith leader who signed their name pleading with you to act. So are the thousands who will remember whether Mike DeWine chose courage or cowardice.
Right now, Ohio doesn’t need a cautious politician. It needs a governor.
Do your job. Free Ayman Soliman.
Sincerely,
Rook T. Winchester
Editor-in-Chief
Closer to the Edge
Want to make some noise? Pick up the phone and let Governor Mike DeWine know Ohio won’t be complicit in sending a chaplain to his death. Call (614) 466-3555 or the Governor’s Hotline at (614) 644-4357. If you wanr to hit his fax machine, blast one through at (614) 466-9354. Prefer snail mail? Send your letter to:
📬 Mail Governor DeWine
Office of Governor Mike DeWine
1888 Fountain Square
Columbus, OH 43215
United States
Be firm, be respectful, and remind him: Ayman Soliman’s life is in his hands. Encourage him to take action now.
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Thank you for keeping Ayeman Soliman’s name in the public eye. I appreciate hate your letter. I worked at Cincinnati Children’s for the bulk of my career and know how amazing all the Chaplains are there.
It's not an easy task to try to straddle the line these days. It's gonna take some gumption to come down on the right side of this issue but I believe DeWine's up to the job.