Politics
Dearborn pastor warns against Abdul El-Sayed's Senate bid, raising Sharia law concerns
Pastor Lorenzo Sewell criticized Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, whose campaign rejected the claims as hateful rhetoric.
The short version
- Detroit Pastor Lorenzo Sewell warned that Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed could recommend federal judges aligned with Sharia law if elected.
- El-Sayed's campaign dismissed Sewell's remarks as hateful rhetoric and emphasized that El-Sayed opposes writing religious laws into U.S. legislation.
- Sewell also criticized El-Sayed's medical background and political associates, including streamer Hasan Piker, from whom El-Sayed recently distanced himself.
Key facts
- Pastor Lorenzo Sewell warned in a Fox News Digital interview that Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed could recommend federal judicial appointees aligned with Sharia law.[Fox News]
- El-Sayed's spokeswoman, Roxie Richner, stated that while El-Sayed lives by his faith, he opposes any religious group incorporating faith laws into U.S. statutes.[Fox News]
- El-Sayed's campaign characterized Sewell's comments as cheap attacks tied to Republican opponent Mike Rogers.[Fox News]
- El-Sayed earned a medical degree from Columbia University but did not complete a medical residency or hold a license to practice in Michigan or New York.[Fox News]
- In 2009, El-Sayed noted in a New York Times interview that he used a Sharia-compliant loan structure to purchase a condo.[Fox News]
- El-Sayed recently distanced himself from online streamer Hasan Piker following comments Piker made regarding Jewish Americans and Israel.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar did not respond to requests for comment regarding Sewell's claims that Muslim politicians resist assimilation.[Fox News]