The wife of accused Boulder attacker, Mohamed Sabri Soliman, has made her first official statement seeking assistance from Americans. This comes after a Texas U.S. District Court judge allowed an extension of his stay and efforts to avoid deportation.
Soliman, 45, is alleged to have injured over a dozen people by throwing Molotov cocktails at a peaceful pro-Israel demonstration while shouting “free Palestine.”
After the incident, federal authorities took his wife, Heim El Gamal, and their five children from Colorado Springs, which is about two hours from Boulder.
A Colorado judge determined that since El Gamal and her children were transferred to Texas by federal officials, any judicial relief would need to come from a competent jurisdiction.
Consequently, U.S. District Court Judge Orlando Garcia in San Antonio has granted a 14-day extension of an order that previously barred the deportation of families.
In light of Garcia’s ruling, El Gamal has released her first official statement through her lawyers.
“My five kids and I are completely shocked by what my husband did in Boulder earlier this month,” she stated. “There is never a reason to harm innocent people. We have cooperated with the authorities, who are trying to get to the bottom of this. We send our love to all families affected by this attack.”
She reflected on the aftermath of the attack, describing her late-night flight and subsequent detention in a Texas immigration facility.
“This includes my 4-year-old, my 7-year-old, my 15-year-old, and my eldest son, who is now in prison,” she continued. “We are heartbroken and suffering. The officers told us we were being punished for my husband’s actions. But why should we be punished? What about my 4-year-old child?”
Soliman’s court appearance is scheduled for June 2, 2025.
Having arrived in the U.S. three years ago, El Gamal expressed that her family has been striving to do the right thing. She mentioned that they obtained work permits, learned English, and aimed to teach their skills to other immigrants.
“We have always endeavored to be good neighbors, offering food to those around us, regardless of their religion,” she wrote. “I won’t judge anyone based on faith alone. If your heart is kind, that’s what truly matters.”
Her reference to neighbors of various faiths came after a recent interview with a Jewish family who moved to the same area as Soliman’s family.
In the wake of the attack, neighbors David and Livka Costello expressed their horror upon discovering that their neighbors faced charges related to a suspected hate crime. They recalled how El Gamal had welcomed them, offering cupcakes when they first moved in.
El Gamal further stated that when they were initially detained, her children were forced to endure conditions lacking privacy and proper nutrition.
“Only mothers truly grasp what we’re experiencing,” El Gamal wrote. “I have done everything for my kids. We have already spent two weeks in detention. How long will this continue for things we didn’t do? How long until something is irrevocably affected? It’s been incredibly tough to maintain my strength for the kids, and I’m exhausted.”
