Michigan Dem candidate grilled over rally with anti-Israel streamer
Michigan Dem candidate Abdul El-Sayed faces scrutiny for his planned rally with anti-Israel streamer Hasan Piker. Piker has controversially claimed “America deserved 9/11” and justified the October 7th attacks. El-Sayed is also pressed on his past remarks regarding the Ayatollah’s death in Dearborn and his stance on defunding ICE, sparking debate over cancel culture and border enforcement.
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Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed is slated to speak at the Islamic Society of North America’s (ISNA) annual convention over Labor Day weekend, joining a speaker roster that includes Muslim religious leaders with histories of controversial remarks.
Among the most controversial figures attending the ISNA convention is cleric Baqir Berry, who prayed for “mujahideen” in Palestine and Lebanon, using a term commonly associated with Islamist fighters, and asked God to grant them “a mighty victory.” Islamic Institute of America head Hassan Qazwini is also attending after appealing to God to “grant victory to our brothers in Iran,” a U.S.-designated state sponsor of terrorism.
Also appearing at the conference is Texas imam Yasir Qadhi, who previously made Holocaust-denialist remarks that he later repudiated. Siraj Wahhaj, who was named as a possible co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center terrorism case but never charged, is also scheduled to speak.
EL-SAYED CAMPAIGN BACKED BY OVER $100,000 FROM DOZENS OF MEMBERS OF GROUP WITH ALLEGED TERROR TIES
Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Abdul El-Sayed speaks during a unity rally at Renaissance High School in Detroit, Mich., on Aug. 7. (The Washington Post via Getty Im)
“We pray to Allah to save our people in South Lebanon from the evil of these Zionists, to support the Muslims and the mujahideen on His path in the East and the West, especially our mujahideen in Palestine, Lebanon, and everywhere,” Berry said during a June sermon, according to the Middle East Media Research Institute. “Oh Allah, grant them a mighty victory.”
Qazwini, in addition to praying for an Iranian victory, was denounced by Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign over what it called “antisemitic conspiracy theories” after Qazwini claimed ISIS was connected to Israel and acting as an “arm of the Zionists.”
Qadhi, Berry and Qazwini did not respond when Digital reached out for comment on Wednesday.
This is not El-Sayed’s first brush with religious radicals.
EL-SAYED TOUTS ENDORSEMENT FROM PASTOR WHO PRAISED NOTORIOUS ANTISEMITE INFAMOUS FOR CALLING JEWS ‘TERMITES’
Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed claps during a press conference in front of the Spirit of Detroit statue on Aug. 5, 2026, in Detroit. (Finn Gomez/Getty Images)
Digital previously reported that the Democratic Senate candidate had touted the endorsement of a Detroit-area pastor who had praised notorious antisemite Louis Farrakhan.
El-Sayed has also faced criticism over his appearances with streamer Hasan Piker, who previously said America “deserved 9/11.” El-Sayed later called the remark “dumb” and disavowed the comment, while declining to disavow Piker himself. He has also defended a 2021 blog post that compared President Donald Trump’s role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot to Osama bin Laden’s role in the Sept. 11 attacks.
MICHIGAN CANDIDATE ABDUL EL-SAYED DODGES WHEN PRESSED ON CONTROVERSIAL REMARKS ABOUT DEATH OF KHAMENEI
Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Abdul El-Sayed speaks to supporters at an election-night rally at the Majestic Theatre on Aug. 4, 2026 in Detroit, Mich. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
El-Sayed’s appearance comes as Republicans have increasingly focused on his past associations with controversial political and religious figures in the Michigan Senate race.
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El-Sayed’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment when reached by Digital on Wednesday.
