Abdul El-Sayed political connection controversies

Questions regarding Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s connections to organizations and individuals linked to the Muslim Brotherhood have emerged through various reports.

Initial scrutiny focused on El-Sayed’s 2019 participation in a series of luxury yacht fundraisers for Islamic Relief USA, a nonprofit described as being linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. These events, marketed as ‘Cruise for a Cause,’ featured speakers such as activist Amer Zahr, leading to criticisms regarding the candidate’s potential ties to extremist groups.

Subsequent Federal Election Commission reports identified further financial connections involving Mohamed Soltan, the president of the American Committee for Middle East Rights (ACMER). Soltan provided individual contributions to the ‘Abdul for U.S. Senate’ committee, while ACMER contributed $25,000 to the Fighting for Michigan PAC. Soltan, an Egyptian American activist, was previously sentenced in absentia to life in prison by an Egyptian court in 2015 for his alleged support of the Muslim Brotherhood, an organization designated as a terrorist group by Egypt.