Democratic Senate candidae Abdul El-Sayed is facing backlash for campaigning at several Michigan Islamic centers known for extremist rhetoric. The 41-year-old, seeking to become the first Muslim US senator, visited locations that have previously hosted speakers calling for the destruction of Israel or labeling the US the "House of Satan."
The "House of Satan" claims at the Islamic Center of Detroit
The Islamic Center of Detroit has hosted speakers who have used highly controversial language regarding the United States and its foundations. As the report notes, Dr. Zulfiqar Shah told a congregation in January 2025 that the US is the "house of Satan" and claimed the Constitution was built on Islamic ideology. During a March 2026 visit, El-Sayed sought signatures for his ballot at this same center, where a leader read a prayer calling for "the worst revenge" against Zionists.
El-Sayed addressed a packed room of men during a Ramadan prayer gathering at the Detroit center, telling them he needed to get on the ballot to earn their votes. A mosque leader introduced him to the pulpit as a "beloved brother" while El-Sayed directed attendees to his campaign team to secure signatures for the Michigan Democratic primary.
Calls for a "greater graveyard" in Warren and Dearborn
Extremist rhetoric has also been documented at other locations where El-Sayed has campaigned,including the Islamic Organization of North America in Warren. A speaker at that organization previoously described a "greater Israel" as a "greater graveyard" where Israelis would be exterminated , according to the source. In Dearborn, the American Moslem Society has seen leaders pray for worshippers to live upon jihad and die upon martyrdom.
In Dearborn Heights, the Islamic Institute of America has prayed for vengeance against "criminal Zionists," while the Islamic House of Wisdom has called for disbelievers to be neutralized. while El-Sayed criticized US funding for what he called "genocide" and "apartheid" at the Dearborn mosque, the venue's history of radical prayer remains a central point of contention for his critics.
Saleh Qazwini’s "mandatory" endorsement in Canton
Religious leaders in Canton and Sterling Heights have actively encouraged their congregations to support the Democratic candidate. Saleh Qazwini, the imam for the Muslim Educational Community Center of America, stated that electing El-Sayed is "mandatory" because he is a Muslim. This endorsement follows similar support from the American Muslim Diversity Association in Sterling Heights, both of which have histories of hosting violent speech.
Qazwini emphasized that the community must "all come out in numbers" to ensure El-Sayed's success in the primary. these endorsements highlight the candidate's strategy of building a base within Michigan's religious communities, even as the venues' past statements draw national attention.
The RNC's "terrorist sympathizer" accusation against El-Sayed
The Republican National Committee has used these campaign visits to launch a sharp political attack against the candidate.. natalie Baldassarre, the RNC's National Press Secretary, labeled El-Sayed a "terrorist sympathizer" who platforms radical imams and Muslim Brotherhood-linked networks. Baldassarre further claimed that El-Sayed is a "better fit for Guantanamo Bay than the halls of Congress."
While El-Sayed has denied any ties to terrorist organizations, the central question remains whether his presence at these specific venues constitutes a tacit endorsement of their more radical elements. It remains unverified whether the campaign was aware of the specific historical rhetoric used by these centers prior to their visits,or if the candidate's team intends to address the specific claims made by speakers at these locations.
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