Obama Administration Placed El-Sayed's Sister-in-Law on Terror Watchlist

Michigan Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed has acknowledged that his sister-in-law was placed on a federal terror watchlist, asserting that she "did nothing wrong" and was eventually removed from it after filing a lawsuit. The revelation comes as El-Sayed faces scrutiny over his family's ties to various Islamic groups.

Mariam Jukaku, the sister of El-Sayed's wife, was a plaintiff in a 2016 lawsuit concerning her and over a dozen others who had been placed on the federal Terrorism Screening Database. According to the lawsuit, Jukaku was stamped with the "SSSS" designation, indicating she was deemed a "known or suspected terrorist," when attempting to board a flight from Detroit Metropolitan Airport in 2012.

The federal government generally does not confirm or deny individuals' presence on terror watchlists or the reasons for such placements. Jukaku's legal action was supported by attorneys from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

Jukaku's placement on the watchlist has been a point of contention, particularly as it has been highlighted by El-Sayed's Republican opponent, Mike Rogers. El-Sayed stated that Jukaku faced extensive searches and screenings. He also suggested that her inclusion on the list was a product of a system where individuals are "guilty until proven innocent" due to their names or background, criticizing the infrastructure established by figures like Rogers.

Reports indicate that Jukaku was an editor at UCLA's Al-Talib publication. At the time, three advertisers for the publication were reportedly shut down by federal authorities over suspected terrorist ties, and Jukaku had been vocal about the matter. Additionally, in 2007, while a graduate student at Syracuse University, Jukaku reportedly had a run-in with law enforcement for photographing federal facilities.

The 2016 class-action lawsuit filed by Jukaku and others against the government was ultimately dismissed by mutual agreement in 2017. A subsequent suit seeking an injunction initially saw success but was reversed on appeal in 2021.

El-Sayed's campaign and attorneys involved in the case have been contacted for comment. El-Sayed has drawn attention during his campaign for his family's associations, including past tweets from his half-sister, Eman Abdelhadi, suggesting family support for the Muslim Brotherhood. While not designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., the Muslim Brotherhood is considered one by several other countries.

During a recent encounter with a voter, El-Sayed addressed questions about his allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, drawing a parallel to the skepticism John F. Kennedy faced regarding his Catholic faith. El-Sayed is scheduled to debate Rogers and later campaign with former President Barack Obama.