The young preacher left his homeland and went to work in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, as a religious teacher and preacher, carrying the usual outward symbols of a head covering, a short robe, and a good beard. Within a relatively short period, he learned the local language and took charge of a religious institution. In a completely foreign society, he managed to build strong relationships and rose to prominence in a short time.
Many sought to attend his sermons, and his management of Holy Qur’an memorization competitions, along with his recommendations of students eligible to travel to Egypt for further studies, earned him growing popularity. His television appearances increased, and he gained the trust of the community. It is said that he was granted citizenship in recognition of his work.
In 2021, one of his young students complained to his parents that he was sexually assaulted by the preacher. However, the accusation was covered up to protect the man’s religious reputation and the reputation of the esteemed institution where he worked, as well as to avoid scandal. The accusations later resurfaced, and an initial report was filed against him with the local authorities. The complaints were subsequently transferred to the police. As the number of victims and witnesses increased, the accused preacher was interrogated and later subjected to a disciplinary and religious counselling session. He admitted that he may have acted inappropriately, but denied the allegations of harassment or sexual assault, and pledged to maintain good conduct.
The complaints resurfaced again, and legal proceedings were renewed. Indonesian police reports indicated that some victims were lured with promises of academic opportunities or study trips to Egypt. Funds belonging to the association under his control were misused, raising further concerns about his conduct. Feeling threatened, the preacher immediately returned to Egypt, citing his mother’s illness. As news of his escape from Indonesia amid the scandal spread, he appeared in a video denying the allegations, claiming he had not fled and that the summons was issued after he had already left Jakarta and arrived in Egypt. He also refused to return to Indonesia to clear his name.
Indonesian police later announced that they had requested Interpol to issue a red notice for him and sought his extradition from Egypt, classifying him as a suspect. Indonesian authorities contacted their Egyptian counterparts to verify his status and discuss international judicial cooperation. Media reports indicated that he was arrested and questioned by Egyptian authorities, although official judicial details regarding the case have not yet been made public. Interpol notices are subject to specific legal requirements and the laws of each country.
Egypt is not known for cooperating with requests from other countries or Interpol regarding the extradition of its citizens for trial abroad. We are not writing to defame anyone, but rather to reiterate our earlier warnings that no entity should be granted preferential treatment over other government bodies under the pretext of a special religious status. Serious crimes have occurred within some of these entities, some of which we have previously addressed. In many cases, the reason behind most of the censorship has been the absence of oversight and accountability, due to the near-sacred status often bestowed upon those who manage them.
By Ahmad alsarraf
email: [email protected]
email: [email protected]
