Michigan Senate Candidate’s Controversial Remarks on Sharia Law

Recently, a video surfaced featuring Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, a Democrat Senate nominee from Michigan, making a connection between Oklahoma’s move to ban Sharia law and various historical injustices, including the forced removal of Native Americans, the destruction of Black Wall Street, and the Oklahoma City bombing. This speech was delivered during a 2022 event hosted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

During his speech, El-Sayed expressed confusion over the significance of Oklahoma voters’ decision to ban Sharia law, stating, “When the state of Oklahoma voted in a referendum to amend the constitution to ban Sharia law. What does that mean? I don’t know. And yet the voters banned it anyway.” He described his comments as simply reflecting on the American history linked to the state.

“You all sitting in this room… we’re in a time and place where I think you understand that the same forces that drove Native peoples from their land long ago, destroyed Black Wall Street a century ago, bombed a building decades back, and attempted to ban Sharia law not too long ago—those forces are still present today,” he said.

El-Sayed’s remarks come in the wake of criticism surrounding Sharia law from figures like Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), who recently asserted at a Republican convention that it has “no place in America.” Cruz condemned Sharia law, linking it to violence and oppression, and emphasized its inconsistency with the Constitution.

Reflecting on his personal beliefs, El-Sayed confirmed in August that he observes Sharia law, highlighting in a past interview that following Islamic law is an obligation for him. He stated, “When I die and stand before God… I don’t want to say I did it the easy way instead of the Shariah-compliant way.” His campaign later clarified that he believes in the separation of church and state and opposes any religious community trying to impose their laws on American law.

After winning the Michigan Democratic primary, El-Sayed faced further criticism from Republican nominee Mike Rogers, who alleged that he supports extremism and has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Rogers claimed that El-Sayed had promised support to this group and even called him an extremist, suggesting his views on prison reform and taxation reflect a dangerous ideology.

Moreover, Rogers urged El-Sayed to return donations from individuals purportedly linked to terrorist organizations. His campaign pointed out that El-Sayed’s campaign had received substantial contributions from CAIR staff, raising questions about transparency and judgment.

At the recent Republican convention, Rogers criticized El-Sayed’s association with figures he deemed anti-American and stated, “You don’t sympathize with terrorists…,” underscoring his position against El-Sayed’s candidacy.

Earlier, in a podcast appearance, El-Sayed defended the political organization among Muslims, asserting that their intention is not to impose religious beliefs on others but to live out their faith in a dignified manner. He expressed that historical figures, including Jesus, faced radical labels for advocating progressive ideas.

El-Sayed has garnered support from various progressive lawmakers, including Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Ilhan Omar. Ocasio-Cortez, at a Detroit rally, described El-Sayed as a representative of future-oriented politics and encouraged voters to back his Senate campaign.