Abdul El-Sayed’s upcoming appearance at a major Islamic convention is drawing fresh attention because the event lineup includes several clerics with a long trail of controversial statements. The Michigan Senate candidate is set to speak at the Islamic Society of North America’s annual gathering over Labor Day weekend, and the guest list has already sparked a wave of criticism around who is sharing the stage.
Among the names getting the most scrutiny is cleric Baqir Berry, who has used sermon language praising “mujahideen” in Palestine and Lebanon and asked for “a mighty victory.” Hassan Qazwini, head of the Islamic Institute of America, is also on the schedule after asking God to “grant victory to our brothers in Iran,” a government the U.S. has designated as a sponsor of terrorism.
Another speaker, Texas imam Yasir Qadhi, previously made remarks denying the Holocaust before later walking them back. Siraj Wahhaj, who was named as a possible co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center terrorism case but was never charged, is also expected to appear, adding even more baggage to an already loaded convention lineup.
Berry’s June sermon has become a flashpoint on its own. According to the Middle East Media Research Institute, he prayed for Muslims in South Lebanon to be saved from “the evil of these Zionists” and called on God to support “our mujahideen in Palestine, Lebanon, and everywhere.”
He followed that with, “Oh Allah, grant them a mighty victory.” That kind of language is exactly why the convention is under a microscope, especially as critics argue the platform is being shared with people who have defended or excused violent anti-Israel rhetoric.
Qazwini has also faced heat beyond the ISNA event. In addition to praying for an Iranian victory, he was denounced by Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign after claiming ISIS was tied to Israel and operating as an “arm of the Zionists.”
El-Sayed is not walking into this storm as a stranger to controversy. Fox News Digital previously reported that he had highlighted the endorsement of a Detroit-area pastor who praised Louis Farrakhan, a figure widely known for antisemitic rhetoric.
That history matters because the candidate has already faced tough questions about his public company. He has also been criticized for appearing alongside streamer Hasan Piker, who once said America “deserved 9/11,” a comment El-Sayed later called “dumb” while stopping short of fully distancing himself from Piker.
El-Sayed has also stood by 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. For Republicans, that comparison has only added to the sense that the candidate is comfortable straddling the line between political provocation and outright recklessness.
The campaign has been pressed on other sensitive remarks too, including questions about his comments surrounding the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His team did not respond when Fox News Digital reached out for comment on Wednesday, leaving the latest round of criticism hanging in the air as the convention approaches.
