El-Sayed Campaign Faces Scrutiny Over Biological Mother's Ties to Terror-Linked Groups

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has faced scrutiny over his relationship with his biological mother, Fatten Elkomy, whose past affiliations with organizations linked to terrorism have drawn criticism. El-Sayed has presented a family narrative on the campaign trail that prominently features his white stepmother, while appearing to distance himself from his birth mother.

Documents from 2010 federal court filings identify Elkomy, a psychiatric nurse, as having worked for the Islamic American Relief Agency (IARA). The IARA was designated a terrorist organization by the Treasury Department in 2004 for allegedly funding Al Qaeda and Hamas, and was accused of funneling funds to Osama bin Laden prior to the September 11th attacks.

Further reports indicate that Elkomy was an activist with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt during the 1970s. The Muslim Brotherhood has been designated as a terror-designated Islamist political movement. El-Sayed's half-sister, Eman Abdelhadi, posted on social media about their family's long-standing ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Despite these connections, El-Sayed has maintained a relationship with his birth mother. He described her as "loving" and "devoted" in his 2020 book, "Healing Politics." In a Mother's Day post on X this year, El-Sayed shared a call with his mother, referring to her affectionately as "Mama."

On the campaign trail, El-Sayed has largely featured his stepmother, Jacqueline Johnson. Campaign videos and fundraising appeals have highlighted Johnson and her parents, emphasizing their deep roots in Michigan. In one video, Johnson's hijab is partially obscured as she discusses El-Sayed's empathy, stemming from his experiences as a child with a "funny name."

When questioned by NBC Nightly News about his upbringing, El-Sayed stated, "I wasn't raised by my mother." He also told interviewers that he had "no ties" to the Muslim Brotherhood, accusing his critics of Islamophobia and suggesting that his name made him a target.

President Trump has also commented on the matter, stating that El-Sayed is "100% Muslim Brotherhood" and calling him a "fraud."

El-Sayed's campaign did not respond to requests for comment from The Post.

Amidst these revelations, El-Sayed has also worked to distance himself from the "socialist" label, despite endorsements from figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Ocasio-Cortez's campaign contributed $1 million to his Senate race.

Experts on the Muslim Brotherhood suggest that the organization operates through a broad network of sympathizers and allies, often passing down influence within families. Kyle Shideler, director of Homeland Security and Counterterrorism at the Center for Security Policy, noted that El-Sayed and his wife, Sarah Jukaku, held leadership positions in the University of Michigan's Muslim Students Association chapter, an organization identified in a Muslim Brotherhood strategy memo.