Complainant States Sheikh Ahmad Al Misry Arrested and Detained by Egyptian Authorities
The complainant in the alleged sexual harassment case against students, Muhammad Mahdi Alatas, stated that the suspect he reported, Sheikh Ahmad Al Misry, has been arrested by security forces in Egypt. The suspect, he said, has been detained by the Al-Amn al-Watani unit (National Security Forces) of the Egyptian National Police (ENP).
This was conveyed by Mahdi when he visited Bareskrim Polri in South Jakarta on Monday (11/5/2026). He met with investigators from the Directorate of Crimes Against Women and Children and the Eradication of Human Trafficking (PPA-PPO).
“There, he has already been detained. Ahmad Misri has been held since 23 (April). So, the first time I spoke up was on 22 April, and on the 23rd he was detained,” Mahdi told reporters at the Bareskrim Polri building.
He mentioned that Ahmad Al Misry and his wife were briefly released for one day by Egyptian authorities. However, on 27 April 2026, they were picked up again and detained until now.
Nevertheless, he has not received any explanation on the reasons for the detention, as it is stated to still be in the investigation stage. Despite this, he hopes for negotiations to bring Ahmad Al Misry back to Indonesia to be held accountable.
“Interpol is already in motion, everything is working, it’s just about the technicalities. Like that, and insyaallah as soon as possible, as soon as possible he can be brought back to Indonesia,” he hoped.
Mahdi is confident that Egyptian authorities will not protect Sheikh Ahmad. Because in Egypt, the individual has no influence and is just an ordinary citizen.
“I’m sure not. The Egyptian government won’t protect him. (Because Ahmad Al Misry in Egypt) as an ordinary person. Now this, we shouldn’t be easily surprised, don’t be easily moved seeing someone who can speak a bit of Arabic and immediately considered a god,” he said.
Furthermore, Mahdi stated that to date, the citizenship status of Ahmad Al Misry has not been answered by Egyptian authorities. He suspects Ahmad Al Misry also holds Egyptian citizenship status.
“The communication just now from this side has also asked about his citizenship. But indeed from the Egyptian side, there has been no answer yet on whether he still holds dual citizenship or not,” Mahdi said.
“Even though there is strong conviction, both the information to me and to some friends—that he still holds dual citizenship,” he added.
Meanwhile, regarding case developments, Mahdi is currently advocating for as many as 13 victims scattered across various regions. The victims are underage children spread across different areas.
“The last one to me is 13 (victims). To me, the last is 13. But the ones we have raised (as official reports to the police) are only five so far,” he said.
Mahdi stated that the victims were allegedly swayed by Sheikh Ahmad’s persuasion, promising help with scholarships in Egypt. However, from departure tickets, residence permits, to living expenses, all were borne by the victims themselves once they arrived in the country.
“In fact, the victims who have gone there did not receive scholarships. They paid for their tickets themselves, even in Egypt they were left hanging for about a year. They had to handle their own residence permits, handle their own school admissions. So it’s like throwing a baby goat into the grassland, just like that,” he revealed.
Police Apply for Red Notice
Polri through the International Relations Division (Divhubinter) has applied for a red notice against the preacher Sheikh Ahmad Al Misry (SAM). He is a suspect in the alleged sexual harassment case against students.
The Head of International Affairs of the Secretariat of the Indonesian NCB Interpol, Commissioner Ricky Purnama, confirmed that the red notice application is currently being submitted through the Interpol portal mechanism.
“It is in the process of being submitted via the Interpol portal,” said Ricky Purnama to reporters on Friday (8/5/2026).
In addition to the red notice application, Ricky stated that Polri is intensively communicating with authorities in Egypt. This step is taken to verify the suspect SAM’s citizenship status.
“We are also communicating with Egyptian authorities to validate his citizenship status,” he explained.
Ricky assured that suspect SAM is indeed an official Indonesian citizen (WNI). This status was obtained through a legal channel, namely naturalisation.
“If his WNI status has been validated (approved), through naturalisation via proposal as a mixed marriage partner with an Indonesian woman,” Ricky clarified.