Source: Fox News
Summary
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed spoke at an Islamic conference in Detroit, where the U.S. was described as an empire in decline. The event, hosted by the Islamic Society of North America, featured speakers critical of the U.S. and Western world. One panel discussed rising Islamophobia, with a speaker calling a bill restricting college boycotts of Israel an “anti-Muslim bill.” A conference attendee called for a fatwa against lawmakers who supported the bill, which was introduced by Rep. Virginia Foxx and co-sponsored by Rep. Josh Gottheimer. El-Sayed’s campaign distanced itself from other conference speakers, though he received a standing ovation.
Our Reading
As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
El-Sayed speaks to a crowd that cheers.
Someone asks for a fatwa against lawmakers.
People clap.
Books say Christianity is violent, Islam is peaceful.
Author: Evan Null
Michigan’s Senate Race and the Islamic Conference
Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan, spoke at an Islamic conference in Detroit, where the United States was described as an empire in decline. The event, hosted by the Islamic Society of North America, included discussions on topics such as Muslim civic participation and the Israel-Hamas conflict. El-Sayed’s presence at the conference has drawn attention, as his campaign has sought to distance itself from some of the more controversial speakers.
During the conference, a panel discussed rising Islamophobia in the U.S., with one speaker calling a recent bill restricting college boycotts of Israel an “anti-Muslim bill.” A conference attendee then called for a fatwa against lawmakers who supported the bill, which was introduced by Rep. Virginia Foxx and co-sponsored by Rep. Josh Gottheimer. The bill, which could bar colleges participating in certain commercial boycotts of Israel from receiving federal funds, was criticized by some as targeting Muslim students.
El-Sayed’s speech at the conference was measured and focused on unity, representation, and the compatibility of Muslim and American identities. He received a standing ovation from the crowd. However, other speakers at the event offered a more critical view of the U.S., with one academic describing the country as an “ending empire” and expressing optimism about its decline.
The conference also featured books that defended Islamic warfare while portraying Christianity as uniquely violent. One book claimed that no religion has a worse record of bloodshed than Christianity, while another argued that all Islamic warfare is defensive. The event also included advertisements for “Sharia-compliant” mortgages and other financial products.
El-Sayed’s campaign has sought to distance itself from some of the more controversial speakers at the conference, though he has maintained ties to socialist-aligned activists. His attendance at the event has raised concerns among critics, who point to his associations with figures accused of supporting terrorist organizations. Despite these concerns, El-Sayed remains a prominent figure in the Michigan Senate race, which is seen as a key contest for control of the Senate in 2026.
