Abdul El-Sayed's Family Ties to Muslim Brotherhood Spark Controversy

What Happened

Abdul El-Sayed, a leftist Muslim U.S. Senate candidate from Michigan, has denied having ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, despite his half-sister Eman Abdelhadi claiming that their family has long been connected to the group.

On Sunday, El-Sayed appeared on Meet the Press, where he repeatedly denied any ties to the Islamist organization, which has been linked to terrorism and has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government.

However, Abdelhadi, an assistant professor at the University of Chicago, has written about her family's ties to the Muslim Brotherhood on social media, stating that her family has 'long been MB' and that she has had family members jailed for being part of the group.

What the Evidence Establishes

The evidence suggests that El-Sayed's family has historical connections to the Muslim Brotherhood, with his mother having worked for the Islamic American Relief Agency, which was sanctioned for funding al-Qaeda.

Additionally, Abdelhadi's social media posts from 2012 and 2013 appear to confirm that her family has ties to the group, with her stating that her family has 'long been MB' and that she has had family members jailed for being part of the group.

El-Sayed's campaign has confirmed that he still complies with Sharia law in his personal life, which has raised concerns about his potential ties to extremist groups.

Where the Accounts Conflict

El-Sayed's denials of any ties to the Muslim Brotherhood conflict with the claims made by his half-sister and the historical connections between his family and the group.

El-Sayed's opponent, Mike Rogers, has accused El-Sayed of lying about his family's ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, stating that El-Sayed and his family have 'surrounded themselves with some of the most heinous organizations and anti-American actors in history'.

The conflicting accounts have sparked controversy in the Michigan Senate race, with some questioning El-Sayed's fitness for office given his potential ties to extremist groups.

Context and Stakes

The controversy surrounding El-Sayed's potential ties to the Muslim Brotherhood comes at a time when the group has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government.

In November, President Donald Trump issued an executive order designating certain Muslim Brotherhood chapters as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists.

The order stated that the Muslim Brotherhood has 'developed into a transnational network with chapters across the Middle East and beyond' and that its chapters in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt 'engage in or facilitate and support violence and destabilization campaigns that harm their own regions, United States citizens, and United States interests'.

What to Watch Next

As the controversy surrounding El-Sayed's potential ties to the Muslim Brotherhood continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how this will impact his campaign for the Michigan Senate.

El-Sayed's opponent, Mike Rogers, has already begun to capitalize on the controversy, releasing a devastating ad that highlights El-Sayed's potential ties to the group.

Investigative journalist Peter Schweizer has warned that the Muslim Brotherhood is using 'civilizational jihad' to take over the west, and that the group is 'alive and active in America today, electing politicians'.

Bottom Line

The controversy surrounding Abdul El-Sayed's potential ties to the Muslim Brotherhood has sparked concerns about his fitness for office and has raised questions about the extent to which extremist groups are influencing American politics.

As the evidence continues to mount, it remains to be seen how El-Sayed will respond to the allegations and how this will impact his campaign for the Michigan Senate.

One thing is certain, however: the American people deserve to know the truth about the candidates they are electing to office, and any potential ties to extremist groups must be thoroughly investigated and exposed.