Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has drawn criticism following remarks made during an interview on Fox News, where he compared circumcision to sex reassignment surgery for minors and discussed Sharia law in comparison to Catholic canon law. The comments, detailed in letters to the editor published by the New York Post, have been described by some readers as antisemitic and demagoguery.
In the interview with Jesse Watters, El-Sayed reportedly asked, "Have you been circumcised?" and then drew a parallel between the procedure and gender affirmation surgeries for minors. Critics argued that this comparison is particularly offensive given that circumcision is a religiously mandated procedure for Jewish males and is often recommended for health reasons. One letter stated that El-Sayed, as a doctor, should be aware of these distinctions and accused him of exploiting ignorance and appealing to antisemitic sentiments within the electorate.
Further criticism focused on El-Sayed's comparison of Sharia law to Catholic canon law. Critics contend that canon law governs the internal affairs of the Catholic Church, while Sharia law has implications for societal and civil matters. This comparison was also met with disapproval, with one reader calling it a "frightening image" of the candidate.
Additional commentary also touched on El-Sayed's stance on reparations for slavery, with one letter writer asserting that the debt has been paid through the lives lost during the Civil War. The candidate's association with Hasan Piker, described by one correspondent as the "new No. 1 antisemite in America," was also cited as a point of concern.
El-Sayed, who is Muslim and running in Michigan, a state with a significant Muslim population, was also criticized for diminishing his own cultural tradition and that of Jewish people with his remarks. The controversy highlights the sensitive nature of discussions surrounding religious practices, cultural traditions, and medical procedures in political discourse. The publication of these letters indicates a strong reaction from some segments of the readership to El-Sayed's statements.