WASHINGTON — Abdul El-Sayed, a candidate for the Michigan Senate, previously signed a letter calling on Egypt’s then-new president, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, to “purge” the media and police.
El-Sayed’s signature was on a document directed to Mohamed Morsi in 2012, which coincided with Morsi’s regime initiating a harsh crackdown on journalists, targeting several for “insulting Islam” and “insulting the president.” This brutal approach eventually led to a significant backlash and a coup.
Despite being the 33rd to sign the letter—first brought to light by the Washington Free Beacon—El-Sayed now claims to disassociate himself from the Muslim Brotherhood, known for its extreme factions.
The letter, as translated from Arabic, stated, “We, leaders of the Egyptian community, support the revolutionary decisions taken by the president, and we call on him to purge the media and the police as quickly as possible.”
Shortly before this letter, Morsi, Egypt’s first elected president, had extended his powers amid significant civil unrest.
The previous year had seen the Arab Spring lead to the resignation of longtime leader Hosni Mubarak, and Morsi’s power expansion included calling for Mubarak’s retrial, much to the discontent of supporters who felt the ousted leader had not faced severe enough repercussions.
Fears that Morsi might consolidate power fueled widespread protests, leading to a coup by then-general Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who continues to hold power today, despite announcing plans to step down in 2030.
The letter El-Sayed endorsed was published on Al-Ahram Gate, a prominent Egyptian news site. El-Sayed’s parents migrated from Egypt.
In a 2011 piece for HuffPost, he urged support for the protesters in Egypt ahead of Mubarak’s ousting while downplaying concerns regarding the Brotherhood.
His family’s links to the Brotherhood, designated a terrorist organization by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, have led to criticism, though the United States does not share this designation. The group is contentious partly due to its radical offshoots, like Hamas.
Recently resurfaced tweets from El-Sayed’s half-sister highlighted their family’s connections to the Brotherhood.
Responding to inquiries about his relationship with the Brotherhood, El-Sayed expressed frustration, stating, “The implication is that I somehow have dual loyalties and there is nothing about my history or record to imply that. I clearly disavow. If it’s not clear enough, I clearly disavow it.”
He also gained attention for his sharp response to a question regarding his stance on the Brotherhood, asserting, “You assume, Tommy, that because I am Muslim, that somehow, I would have allegiance to something that is not our Constitution. That’s implicit in the question.”
In a recent debate, Republican rival Mike Rogers criticized El-Sayed for these familial connections, insinuating that he had been “bought off” by the group.
The Post reached out to El-Sayed’s campaign for a response.
