Family Claims Ties to Muslim Brotherhood Amidst Candidate’s Denial

The half-sister of U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who identifies as a leftist Muslim, has reportedly claimed that their family has connections to the Muslim Brotherhood, even though El-Sayed has denied any such affiliations.

In a recent interview on Meet the Press, El-Sayed firmly rejected any suggestions that he or his family members are associated with the Islamist group, which is known for its connection to the terrorist organization Hamas, according to reports from the media.

However, Eman Abdelhadi, his half-sister and an assistant professor at the University of Chicago, offered a contrasting view.

During a debate last Thursday with his opponent, Mike Rogers, El-Sayed also seemed to sidestep questions regarding whether he had ever received funding from terrorist organizations. It was confirmed by his campaign earlier this year that he still adheres to Sharia law in his personal life.

The outlet further elaborated on the claims made by Abdelhadi, noting that she mentioned her family’s connections to the Muslim Brotherhood in several social media posts from 2012 and 2013. She stated, “My family has long been MB,” shortly after Mohamed Morsi, a leader of the Brotherhood, became president of Egypt. In another post, she expressed concern for family members involved with the group, saying, “I have had family jailed for being a part of it,” and urged them to stay safe.

On her university profile, Abdelhadi lists her academic interests as focusing on religion, gender, identity, and demography.

Additionally, it’s noted that El-Sayed’s ties to the Muslim Brotherhood reportedly stem from his mother, who worked for the Islamic American Relief Agency, previously sanctioned for its links to al-Qaeda.

In November, an executive order by President Trump classified certain chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations. The order highlighted the group’s historical involvement in violence and destabilization efforts, particularly in the Middle East.

Further drawing attention to the matter, Rogers commented on social media, claiming that El-Sayed’s denial of familial ties to the Brotherhood was “an outright lie” and suggested that El-Sayed associates with extremist groups that threaten American interests.

Meanwhile, investigative journalist Peter Schweizer warned that the Muslim Brotherhood is actively employing “civilizational jihad” tactics to exert influence in the West, including the United States. He pointed out that such efforts have been ongoing and are part of a larger strategy to elect politicians sympathetic to their cause.