Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has faced repeated questions about the Muslim Brotherhood during his political career, with scrutiny intensifying in October as he campaigns for the U.S. The Democratic candidate has denied having ties to the Islamist organization and rejected suggestions that his Muslim faith raises questions about his political loyalties. The controversy has gained renewed attention following comments from President Donald Trump and the emergence of social media posts attributed to El-Sayed's half-sister, Eman Abdelhadi, about their family's alleged connections to the group.
The Muslim Brotherhood is an Islamist movement founded in Egypt in 1928. Its status varies internationally, with some governments designating the organization or particular branches as terrorist groups, while others have not. Here is what El-Sayed has said about the Muslim Brotherhood and related allegations over the years.
El-Sayed first faced questions about his alleged connections to the Muslim Brotherhood during a Michigan gubernatorial forum in May 2018, when he was running for governor. His Republican rival, Patrick Colbeck, questioned El-Sayed's religious affiliations and raised concerns about the implementation of Sharia law in Michigan. Colbeck also alleged that El-Sayed had connections to the Muslim Brotherhood through his involvement with the Muslim Students Association at the University of Michigan.
When the moderator asked whether the implementation of Sharia law in Michigan was a genuine concern, El-Sayed rejected the suggestion that he would attempt to undermine the U.S. "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," El-Sayed said. He added that he took the oath particularly seriously because it guaranteed his right to practice his religion.
"Sharia law is not in question in this state," he said. Addressing Colbeck's criticism, El-Sayed also accused his opponent of exploiting anti-Muslim prejudice. "You may not hate Muslims.
But I'll tell you, Muslims definitely hate you," he said. The exchange resurfaced in September 2026, as El-Sayed's campaign for the Senate brought renewed attention to his previous comments and associations. In October 2021, El-Sayed published an article on his now-defunct Substack page, The Incision, defending his friend Mohamed Soltan, an American citizen who had been imprisoned in Egypt.
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