A supposedly "charitable" organization, Life for Relief and Development (LRD), once embroiled in a federal investigation for illegally funneling money to Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and subjected to FBI and military raids, now draws scrutiny for its leadership. Dr. Mohammed El-Sayed, father of prominent Michigan academic and public figure Abdul El-Sayed, sits on the board of this highly problematic group.
According to a new report, Dr. Mohammed El-Sayed has been affiliated with LRD since at least 2020. Disturbingly, prosecutors' records reveal at least two of the group's current leaders were listed in a 1992 directory of U.S. Muslim Brotherhood leaders. Adding another layer to these concerning connections, Abdul El-Sayed's father-in-law, Jukaku Tayeb, also previously served on the board.
While LRD advertises itself as a "trusted top-rated global humanitarian organization committed to helping people in crisis," its history tells a far darker story.
The U.S. military raided LRD’s Baghdad offices in 2004, seizing computers and files shortly after Hussein's regime fell. This was followed by a September 2006 FBI raid on the charity's office. Despite initial government denials that the raid was connected to terrorism, members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force were notably present, a detail that speaks volumes about the true nature of the inquiry.
Adding to the legal troubles, LRD’s public relations coordinator, Muthanna al-Hanooti, was charged in 2008 with acting as an unregistered agent for Hussein’s government, violating sanctions, and lying to investigators. He later pleaded guilty to violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
The investigation unearthed deeply troubling links. Records seized connected LRD to the Islamic African Relief Agency (IARA), a global network designated by the Treasury Department in 2004 for supporting Osama bin Laden, Al Qaeda, and the Taliban. Further underscoring the family's proximity to these organizations, Abdul El-Sayed’s mother, Fatten Fathy Elkomy, once worked for IARA’s U.S. branch, the Islamic America Relief Agency.
A 2007 New York Post opinion column by Detroit attorney Debbie Schlussel highlighted even more severe allegations, stating that the charity gave millions to a group the FBI identified as Hamas’ Jordanian operation. Schlussel's law enforcement sources also indicated LRD was suspected of funding Al Qaeda insurgents in Iraq.
The protracted investigation finally concluded in 2015 with LRD reaching a six-figure settlement with the U.S. government. The official government report on the settlement pulled no punches:
"[Life for Relief and Development] appears to have violated §§ 575.210 and 575.211 of the Regulations between September 9, 2002, and March 19, 2003, when it knowingly and willfully formed a conspiracy for the purpose of transferring funds from the United States to Iraq, by and through Amman, Jordan, and appears to have made funds transfers pursuant to this conspiracy."
The government's statement continued to outline the severity of LRD's actions: "[Life for Relief and Development] appears to have willfully violated U.S. economic sanctions regulations; prior to the relevant transactions, LRD had written notice from OFAC that such transfers were prohibited and that OFAC did not authorize such transactions; LRD’s highest management levels — i.e., its President — knew of the conduct giving rise to the apparent violations and directed the funds transfers to Iraq via Jordan."
These illicit transfers, occurring as tensions between the United States and Iraq escalated, only ceased when U.S. military forces began bombing Iraq. LRD ultimately paid the Office of Foreign Assets Control $780,000 to settle the dispute, a stark confirmation of its knowing involvement in illegal financial activities benefiting a hostile regime.
While the United States has only officially designated certain chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations, several legislative attempts have aimed to broaden this designation. Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) even issued a proclamation in 2025 designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group under Texas law, highlighting the widespread concern over such affiliations.
The revelations surrounding Life for Relief and Development and its deep connections to the El-Sayed family underscore a critical need for transparency and accountability, especially for those close to figures who seek public influence. Americans deserve to know that organizations purporting to be charitable are not, in fact, enabling enemies of freedom or operating with ties to groups linked to terror. In an America First nation, safeguarding national security and upholding public trust are paramount, and these disturbing associations demand answers and immediate scrutiny.
