Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed was the featured speaker at the Islamic Society of North America’s (ISNA) annual conference, an event where attendees and panelists expressed strong criticisms of the United States, discussed Islamophobia, and referenced calls for religious edicts against members of Congress.
The conference, held over Labor Day weekend in Detroit, included discussions on Muslim civic participation and the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Several speakers portrayed the United States as an empire in decline and praised early Islamic conquests. Fox News Digital attended the event, documenting speeches and panels.
During a panel titled "Rising Islamophobia in the U.S.," a speaker characterized legislation that could penalize universities for participating in certain boycotts of Israel as an "anti-Muslim bill." Following this, an audience member suggested that a fatwa, a religious ruling, should be issued against bipartisan lawmakers who supported the bill. This suggestion was met with applause from some attendees and a panelist.
Earlier in the same discussion, a panelist criticized Congress for censuring Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib. Tlaib’s censure was partly due to her use of the phrase "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," which critics interpret as a call for Israel's destruction, while Tlaib described it as an "aspirational call for freedom, human rights and peaceful coexistence."
Speakers also alleged that Elon Musk funds a global anti-Muslim movement and questioned the mainstream narrative of the 9/11 attacks, framing the aftermath through the lens of Islamophobia and discrimination. The War on Terror was referred to as the "War of Terror," and speakers asserted that Islamophobia is at an "all-time high."
El-Sayed’s campaign had attempted to distance him from other conference participants prior to the event. A campaign spokesperson stated that El-Sayed was not affiliated with or endorsing other conference participants. This statement came after reports that he would appear alongside clerics who had defended child marriage and praised U.S.-designated terrorist organizations. One cleric reportedly criticized for defending child marriage was ultimately disinvited.
ISNA, a nonprofit Muslim religious organization established in 1981, posted a disclaimer at the conference venue stating, "ISNA does not endorse the actions of convention participants and explicitly disclaims any responsibility for the views expressed, information provided, or materials displayed, sold or distributed by convention speakers, performers, exhibitors, vendors, or attendees."
Despite the disclaimer, books sold at the conference bazaar included titles that appeared to defend Islamic warfare and portray Christianity as uniquely violent. Advertisements for "Sharia-compliant" financial products were also present.
El-Sayed was met with a strong reception from attendees, with campaign buttons visible and his campaign booth drawing significant attention. Upon taking the stage, he received a standing ovation. In his speech, El-Sayed emphasized themes of unity, representation, and the compatibility of Muslim and American identities, stating, "at their best being Muslim makes us better Americans and being Muslim enables us to be better Americans."
In contrast to El-Sayed's message, other speakers at the conference offered critical perspectives on the U.S. One academic described the U.S. as an "ending empire" and expressed optimism about a multipolar world. Another speaker criticized American foreign policy post-9/11 and noted the mobilization of the "TikTok generation" in support of Palestinians.
Some speakers also linked El-Sayed's political platform to his Islamic faith, with one cleric suggesting that Islam was historically spread by socialism.