2018 Clip Reveals Tensions Over El-Sayed's Faith and Allegations of Muslim Brotherhood Ties

An unearthed clip from a 2018 Michigan gubernatorial forum reveals a heated exchange between then-candidate Abdul El-Sayed and his Republican rival, Patrick Colbeck, concerning El-Sayed's Muslim faith and alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.

During the forum, Colbeck questioned El-Sayed's religious affiliations, suggesting a connection to the Muslim Brotherhood, an organization that advocates for Sharia law as a legal framework. Colbeck claimed El-Sayed had ties to the Muslim Students Association (MSA), which he asserted was part of a strategy memorandum by a Muslim Brotherhood member. El-Sayed, who served as the vice president of the MSA chapter at the University of Michigan in 2007, responded forcefully to these accusations.

"Now, you may not hate Muslims. But I’ll tell you, Muslims definitely hate you," El-Sayed stated at the forum, expressing frustration with attempts to link his faith to groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and to foster fears of him implementing Sharia law.

When the moderator directly asked about concerns regarding Sharia law in Michigan, El-Sayed affirmed his commitment to the U.S. Constitution and the state's constitution. "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. I take that oath particularly seriously because it guarantees me the right to pray as I choose to pray," he said. "Sharia law is not in question in this state."

While the U.S. does not designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, several other countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, have done so, citing the group's historical involvement in armed activities. The Muslim Brotherhood renounced violence in the 1970s but has continued to advocate for the codification of Muslim religious beliefs globally.

Fox News Digital has not found evidence directly linking El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood. The memorandum referenced by Colbeck lists various organizations, not all of which maintain formal ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.

The issue of Muslims potentially using the American electoral process to implement Islamic law has been raised by some lawmakers. Representative Chip Roy, R-Texas, has previously stated that Sharia law's tenets are incompatible with American values and warned of threats to the U.S. Constitution and Western values from adherents of Sharia.

In Dearborn, Michigan, a city with a significant population of Middle Eastern or North African ancestry, some critics have voiced concerns about perceived leniency towards Muslim individuals, with one pastor claiming the city operates under Sharia law rather than American law. According to the 2020 U.S. census, approximately 54.5% of Dearborn residents reported Middle Eastern or North African ancestry.

The campaign for Abdul El-Sayed has stated that he believes in the separation of church and state and opposes any attempts by religious communities to impose their laws on the country. "Abdul believes in the separation of church and state. While he personally lives by the rules of his faith, as many Americans of various faiths do, Abdul opposes any effort by any religious community to write their faith laws into the laws of our country," the campaign told the Washington Free Beacon.