Abdul El-Sayed Responds to Accusations of Ties to Muslim Brotherhood

<p>Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, addressed accusations regarding potential ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, a group advocating for the implementation of Sharia law. During a 2018 gubernatorial forum, he stated, "Now, you may not hate Muslims. But I’ll tell you, Muslims definitely hate you," in response to Michigan lawmaker Patrick Colbeck's question about his religious affiliations.</p><p>El-Sayed's remarks reflect his discontent with attempts to link his Muslim faith to Islamic organizations like the Muslim Brotherhood. Colbeck, who was also running for governor, criticized El-Sayed's past involvement with the Muslim Students Association (MSA), which is mentioned in a strategy memorandum by a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed Akram. El-Sayed was vice president of the MSA chapter at the University of Michigan in 2007.</p><p>Colbeck described the situation as "very serious" and referred to it as "civilization jihad." However, Fox News Digital found no evidence linking El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood. The memorandum includes various organizations, many of which do not have formal ties to the Brotherhood.</p><p>During the panel, the moderator asked El-Sayed if the implementation of Sharia law in Michigan was a concern. El-Sayed responded by affirming his commitment to uphold the law and the Constitution, stating, "I solemnly swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this state — that’s the oath that if any one of us is elected, we will swear. I take that oath particularly seriously because it guarantees me the right to pray as I choose to pray." He added, "Sharia law is not in question in this state."</p><p>While the U.S. does not classify the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, several countries, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, have done so due to the group's history of violence. The Muslim Brotherhood renounced violence in the 1970s but continues to advocate for the codification of Islamic beliefs.</p><p>Concerns about the influence of Sharia law in American politics have been raised by lawmakers such as Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who stated, "America is facing a threat that directly attacks our Constitution and our Western values: the spread of Sharia law." He expressed worries about instances of Sharia adherents posing as refugees and the potential impact on American legal systems.</p><p>In Dearborn, Michigan, where a significant portion of the population is of Middle Eastern or North African descent, some critics argue that there is a preference toward Muslim individuals. Pastor Lorenzo Sewell of 180 Church claimed during a town council meeting that the city is under Sharia law, urging council members to denounce it.</p><p>According to the 2020 U.S. census, approximately 54.5% of Dearborn residents reported Middle Eastern or North African ancestry. Fox News Digital has not identified any proposals from El-Sayed to implement Sharia law. A spokesperson for El-Sayed stated that he believes in the separation of church and state and opposes any religious community's efforts to influence U.S. laws.</p>