El-Sayed Denies Muslim Brotherhood Links Amid Senate Bid

Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic candidate for Michigan Senate, pushed back against claims linking him to the Muslim Brotherhood. That group pushes for Sharia law as a national legal code. At a 2018 gubernatorial forum in Michigan, he told an audience that some might not hate Muslims, yet Muslims definitely hate them. He made those remarks during a question from Patrick Colbeck, then a state lawmaker and rival candidate, about religious ties. That exchange revealed deep resentment over efforts to connect his faith to Islamic organizations. It also highlighted fears he would try to make Sharia the law of the land if elected.

Colbeck focused his criticism on the Muslim Brotherhood while questioning El-Sayed's connection to the Muslim Students Association. Records from College Fix show El-Sayed served as vice president at the University of Michigan chapter in 2007. Colbeck called this serious stuff and claimed it involved civilization jihad. Fox News Digital found no evidence tying El-Sayed directly to the Brotherhood. The group's strategy memorandum lists many other organizations, including the Islamic Book Service and the Association of Muslim Scientists and Engineers. Those groups do not maintain formal relationships with the Brotherhood despite appearing on the same list.

The moderator then asked if instituting Sharia law in Michigan was a real concern for anyone present. El-Sayed seized that moment to rebuff Colbeck's accusations directly. He promised to swear an oath upholding federal and state constitutions without subverting them. He said taking that oath seriously guarantees his right to pray as he chooses. He stated clearly that Sharia law is not in question within the state of Michigan.

While the United States does not label the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Russia all have done so. Those nations cite a history of armed activity by the group. The Brotherhood renounced violence decades ago but continues to advocate codifying religious beliefs globally. In 2012 they issued a statement declaring Islamic law their most important issue worth martyrdom or imprisonment. That stance worries lawmakers like Rep. Chip Roy from Texas who see Sharia tenets as incompatible with American culture.

Roy warned in a 2025 press release that America faces a direct threat to its Constitution and Western values through the spread of Sharia law. He argued instances of adherents masquerading as refugees or acting as sleeper cells threaten the American way of life from Texas to every other state. These concerns reflect ongoing debates about immigration, religious freedom, and how government regulations shape public trust in democratic institutions.

Critics argue that certain political groups aim to dismantle our Constitution and legal framework entirely. They claim Sharia law eliminates basic freedoms for speech, religion, and women. This fear has taken hold in communities like Dearborn, Michigan, where growing Muslim populations have sparked debate over perceived favoritism. Pastor Lorenzo Sewell of the 180 Church voiced these concerns loudly during a recent town council meeting there. He declared that America had lost this city to foreign legal codes. The pastor insisted residents were no longer protected by American laws but instead subject to Sharia. He demanded local officials reject any such Muslim code immediately. Census data from 2020 shows nearly half of Dearborn's residents trace their roots to the Middle East or North Africa, specifically at a rate around 54.5%. Fox News Digital found no evidence that Councilman El-Sayed plans to enforce Sharia statutes in the United States. His campaign clarified his position when asked directly about this issue. A spokesperson stated clearly that implementing religious law is not his legislative mission. The same group told the Washington Free Beacon earlier this year that Abdul supports separation of church and state strictly. While he follows his own faith personally like many Americans do, he opposes efforts to insert religious rules into national laws. No other religious community should dictate American statutes either.