Abdul El-Sayed’s Response to Accusations of Muslim Brotherhood Ties

Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, faced accusations of ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, a group that advocates for implementing Sharia law as a legal framework. At a 2018 Michigan gubernatorial forum, El-Sayed responded to a question from Michigan lawmaker Patrick Colbeck about his religious affiliations. He stated, “Now, you may not hate Muslims. But I’ll tell you, Muslims definitely hate you.” The statement addressed concerns that his Muslim faith might link him to Islamic groups like the Muslim Brotherhood.

Colbeck’s Criticisms and the Muslim Brotherhood

Colbeck, who was also running for governor at the time, focused his criticisms on the Muslim Brotherhood, claiming El-Sayed had ties to the Muslim Students Association (MSA), a group listed as part of a strategy memorandum for North America written by one of the Muslim Brotherhood’s members, Mohamed Akram. El-Sayed served as the vice president of the MSA chapter at the University of Michigan during his time there as a senior in 2007, according to College Fix. Colbeck described the situation as “very serious stuff, guys. This is about civilization jihad.”

El-Sayed’s Rebuttal and Oath to the Constitution

El-Sayed took the moment to rebuff Colbeck, stating that he would, if elected, swear an oath to uphold the law of the land and not look to subvert it. “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 at the time. He emphasized that Sharia law is not in question in the state of Michigan.

Concerns Over Sharia Law and American Values

The idea of Muslims using the American election process to implement the Muslim code as the law of the land has raised concerns from lawmakers like Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and others who believe Sharia’s many tenets are incompatible with American culture. “America is facing a threat that directly attacks our Constitution and our Western values: the spread of Sharia law,” Roy said in a 2025 press release. He claimed instances of Sharia adherents masquerading as ‘refugees’ are threatening the American way of life.

Dearborn, Michigan, and the Perception of Sharia Law

Elsewhere, an increasing number of Muslim representatives and populations in places like Dearborn, Michigan, have led some critics to argue that a kind of preference or leniency toward Muslim individuals is its own version of implementation. Pastor Lorenzo Sewell, the pastor of 180 Church, said during a town council meeting in Dearborn, calling for the town’s councilmembers to denounce the Muslim code. According to the 2020 U.S. census, a majority of Dearborn residents reported Middle Eastern or North African ancestry at roughly 54.5%.