Abdul El-Sayed, a Michigan Senate candidate and former CNN commentator, is set to make an appearance at a significant Islamist convention this weekend.
The event is notorious for featuring anti-Israel speakers who have openly called for the obliteration of Israel, lauded Hamas leaders, and expressed delight over the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. El-Sayed's participation in this event is his first significant national appearance since he announced his candidacy last month to replace the retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.
According to The Washington Free Beacon, El-Sayed will be speaking at the annual Islamic Circle of North America and Muslim American Society (ICNA-MAS) convention in Baltimore. The convention is expected to focus on the Israel-Hamas conflict, with a lineup of speakers who accuse Israel of committing "genocide" in the region.
El-Sayed, a self-proclaimed progressive Democrat, is competing against moderate state senator Mallory McMorrow and Rep. Haley Stevens, a pro-Israel Democrat. Despite being a public health physician, El-Sayed has managed to secure the most high-profile endorsements of the race. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D., Calif.) have both endorsed El-Sayed. Sanders expressed his support for El-Sayed last month, stating that he is needed to "stand up to Trumps authoritarianism." Khanna commended El-Sayed for "standing up for the human rights and self determination of Palestinians."
El-Sayed will share the convention stage with several controversial figures. Among them are Sami Hamdi, a British activist who expressed "euphoria" after the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, and Tom Facchine, who declared his unreserved support for the Palestinian resistance. Facchine has also urged Columbia University students to "take out" pro-Israel professor Shai Davidai, as reported by the New York Post.
Ayman Hammous, the director of the Muslim American Society and another convention speaker, has praised Muslim Brotherhood leader Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who called for another Holocaust to "punish" Jews and defended Palestinian suicide bombers. Hammous recently endorsed a protest sign that referred to "the Satanic state of Israel."
Shaun King, a former Black Lives Matter activist who converted to Islam after the Oct. 7 attacks, will also be present at the convention. King, who served alongside El-Sayed as a Bernie Sanders campaign surrogate, referred to former president Joe Biden as a "genocidal monster" and expressed his hope for Biden's final days to be painful. King also expressed outrage over the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, whom he referred to as his "dear brother."
El-Sayed's association with anti-Israel radicals could potentially harm his chances in a general election. However, it might also boost his standing in Michigans Democratic primary, given the state's large Muslim and Arab populations, which predominantly lean Democratic. These groups have amplified their political influence following the Israel-Hamas war. Many participated in the "uncommitted" movement last year, abstaining from voting for Biden in the Democratic primary due to the U.S. governments support for Israel. El-Sayed supported this movement, citing Bidens "disaster in Gaza."
El-Sayed's previous political endeavor was a strong run for Michigan governor in 2018, where he lost in the Democratic primary to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, 52-30. He received endorsements from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) and celebrities like Ben Affleck. El-Sayed raised his national profile as a commentator on CNN, where he discussed both political campaigns and the coronavirus pandemic.
Ocasio-Cortez has yet to endorse a candidate in the Michigan Senate race, although El-Sayed accompanied her and Sanders during their recent "Stop Oligarchy" tour. El-Sayed's campaign has not responded to requests for comment. The most prominent Republican in the race is former Rep. Mike Rogers, who ran unsuccessfully for Senate last year.
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