Fatwas, holy wars and socialism: Inside the Islamic conference where El-Sayed drew a hero’s welcome
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed headlined an Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) conference in Detroit over the Labor Day weekend, at which speakers criticised the United States and the West, praised early Islamic conquests and framed the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks around Islamophobia. Fox News Digital, which attended the event, reported that participants generally took positions critical of America, including at least one call from an audience member for a fatwa to be issued against lawmakers who backed a bill restricting federal funding for colleges involved in boycotts of Israel. The event's tone matters because El-Sayed is contesting one of the most closely watched Senate races of the 2026 cycle, one that could help determine control of the chamber.
At a panel on "Rising Islamophobia in the U.S.", a speaker labelled the higher-education funding bill, introduced by Republican Virginia Foxx and co-sponsored by Democrat Josh Gottheimer, "an anti-Muslim bill", prompting a man in the audience to call for a fatwa against those who voted for it, which drew applause from some attendees and a panelist. Other panellists accused Elon Musk of funding an anti-Muslim movement, criticised the censure of Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, and questioned aspects of the official 9/11 narrative, with one calling the War on Terror the "War of Terror". ISNA, founded in 1981, held the conference in Detroit, a city with a large Arab American population; El-Sayed has faced separate scrutiny over ties to socialist-aligned activists and a group with alleged terror links.
In short
- El-Sayed headlined an ISNA conference marked by anti-US and anti-Israel rhetoric.
- An audience member called for a fatwa against lawmakers over a funding bill.
- El-Sayed is a leading candidate in Michigan's pivotal 2026 Senate race.
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The case for
Supporters could argue that El-Sayed’s appearance at a major Muslim American gathering reflects ordinary political outreach, while criticism of US policy and concern about Islamophobia are legitimate parts of public debate. They might also caution against treating remarks by individual speakers or audience members as representative of the conference, ISNA or the candidate without evidence of endorsement.
The case against
Critics could argue that a prominent Senate candidate appearing at a conference where speakers praised conquests and an audience member’s call for a fatwa against lawmakers drew applause raises fair questions about the political setting he chose and the views he is willing to challenge. Given the race’s national importance, they may see scrutiny of his associations and response to such rhetoric as relevant to voters’ assessment of his judgement.
Explained simply
The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) is a Muslim organisation founded in 1981 that holds conferences bringing together speakers and attendees from across the United States. Its Detroit gathering included discussions of Islamophobia, US policy and the experiences of Muslims after the 11 September 2001 attacks.
Abdul El-Sayed is a Democrat running for the US Senate in Michigan. The race is among those that could affect which party controls the Senate, so his public appearances and associations have drawn attention. The conference also featured criticism of US policies and a call from an audience member for a religious ruling against lawmakers who supported a bill concerning federal funding for colleges and boycotts of Israel.