Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, currently vying for a U.S. Senate seat, is slated to spend Labor Day weekend at a Muslim conference in company that should alarm every American voter. El-Sayed is scheduled to speak at the Islamic Society of North America’s (ISNA) annual convention in Detroit, sharing the platform with a controversial cleric known for his endorsement of child marriage and virulent antisemitism.
The ISNA itself carries a troubling history, having been named an unindicted co-conspirator in the 2007 federal prosecution of the Holy Land Foundation. A federal judge in 2009 ruled there was “ample evidence” linking the group to Hamas. For a U.S. Senate nominee to willingly associate with such an organization immediately raises serious questions about judgment and national security.
Among the convention’s roster is Tariq Masood, a Pakistani cleric who openly advocates for the marriage of young girls, proudly citing his own 13-year-old niece’s marriage as an example. This same individual is set to moderate a panel on “avoiding mental illness in youth.” The irony of someone promoting such a barbaric practice offering guidance on mental health for youth should not be lost on anyone. Masood is also a peddler of vile antisemitic conspiracy theories, claiming in a 2024 sermon titled “The Final Humiliation of the Jews” that Jews use their “cunning minds” to control the world and are unmatched for “evil and turmoil.”
El-Sayed’s campaign offered a remarkably weak defense, stating the Democrat “does not endorse” anyone else speaking at the conference. Apparently, sharing a stage, lending legitimacy to, and participating in an event organized by such figures is not considered an endorsement in the radical left’s playbook. The spokesman claimed El-Sayed would speak on a “different panel” to discuss “unity and commitment to justice in public service.” It’s curious how “unity” and “justice” square with sharing a platform with a promoter of child marriage and anti-Jewish hatred.
Further cementing El-Sayed’s deeply troubling ties, his father-in-law, Tayeb Jukaku, has served on ISNA’s founders committee since at least 2007 and also sits on the board of CAIR’s Michigan chapter. Jukaku has generously contributed $300,000 to a super PAC backing El-Sayed’s Senate bid. This isn't just a casual appearance; it suggests deep financial and familial connections to these problematic organizations.
Adding to the convention’s dubious lineup is Siraj Wahhaj, a Brooklyn imam who famously testified as a character witness for Omar Abdel-Rahman, the “blind sheikh” convicted in 1995 for plotting terror attacks in New York. While never charged, Wahhaj was listed among potential co-conspirators in that case. The pattern of associating with individuals linked to extremism or promoting radical ideologies is undeniable.
El-Sayed, who narrowly won his primary, has made his far-left agenda clear: advocating for Medicare for all, abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), defunding the police, and even restructuring the U.S. Supreme Court—all core tenets pushed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). He also famously refused to sever ties with America-hating streamer Hasan Piker, dismissing Piker’s repulsive claim that “America deserved 9/11” as merely a “dumb statement.” His willingness to overlook such blatant anti-American rhetoric speaks volumes about his priorities.
As El-Sayed faces Republican Mike Rogers in the November general election, Michigan voters must weigh the implications of a candidate who not only embraces radical policy positions but also willingly provides a platform to individuals who promote child marriage, antisemitism, and have ties to organizations linked to terrorism. This is not about building bridges; it's about legitimizing the unacceptable. America First voters deserve leaders committed to American values, not those who turn a blind eye to radicalism and anti-American sentiment.
