Abdul El-Sayed Signed Letter Urging Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood to 'Purge' Media and Police

Michigan Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed signed a letter in 2012 urging Egypt's then-President Mohamed Morsi, a leader in the Muslim Brotherhood, to "purge" the media and police. The letter was signed shortly before Morsi's government began a crackdown on journalists.

The document, first reported by the Washington Free Beacon, 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." The letter also expressed support for the Egyptian regime against external criticism.

El-Sayed, whose parents were Egyptian immigrants, has faced scrutiny over his family's alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. This group is designated a terrorist organization by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, though not by the U.S. The organization is controversial due to offshoots like Hamas.

In 2011, El-Sayed wrote an article for The HuffPost urging U.S. support for protesters in Egypt prior to the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak, and downplayed concerns about the Muslim Brotherhood at the time.

His half-sister had previously highlighted family connections to the Brotherhood in social media posts from 2012. When questioned about his ties to the group, El-Sayed stated in a recent interview, "I clearly disavow. If it’s not clear enough, I clearly disavow it." He also pushed back against an interviewer's question, suggesting it implied he had divided loyalties due to his Muslim faith and was not aligned with the U.S. Constitution.

During a debate, El-Sayed's Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, criticized him over the alleged family ties, accusing him of being influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood.

Mohamed Morsi, Egypt's first elected president, issued a decree granting himself broad powers shortly before the letter was signed, amidst unrest following the Arab Spring. This move sparked mass protests and ultimately led to a coup by then-General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who remains in power. Morsi's tenure was marked by a crackdown on journalists accused of insulting Islam or the president, leading to international backlash.