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Democratic Senate Candidate El-Sayed's Mother Worked for Terror-Linked Group

General18 sourcesAug 20, 2026
Center-RightRigor 6018 sources

The Story

The birth mother of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed worked for the Islamic American/African Relief Agency (IARA), a group designated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury in October 2004 for allegedly funneling funds to Hamas and providing assistance to Taliban fighters. Fatten Fathy Elkomy worked for IARA from 1999 to at least 2004. The Treasury also revealed IARA was tied to Maktab Al-Khidamat (MK), an organization co-founded and financed by Osama Bin Laden and a precursor to al-Qaeda. International offices of IARA reportedly provided direct financial support for Osama Bin Laden. In March 2007, the Department of Justice charged IARA-US with a 33-count indictment for illegally transferring funds to Iraq. El-Sayed's campaign has not commented on his mother's past employment. In other campaign news, El-Sayed has faced criticism for claiming to be "African" in response to a question from a Black voter, with some commenters suggesting it was pandering. He has also been criticized for his past opposition to Sharia law bans and his association with streamer Hasan Piker. A poll shows El-Sayed leading his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, by seven points in the Michigan Senate race.

The Spread

What they agree on

  • Abdul El-Sayed's birth mother, Fatten Fathy Elkomy, worked for the Islamic American/African Relief Agency (IARA).
  • IARA was designated a terror group by the U.S. Department of the Treasury in 2004.
  • IARA was accused of funneling funds to Hamas and supporting the Taliban.
  • IARA was linked to Maktab Al-Khidamat, an organization co-founded by Osama Bin Laden.
  • Abdul El-Sayed is a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Michigan.

Where they split

  • Some sources emphasize the specific details of IARA's alleged financial support for Osama Bin Laden and its connection to al-Qaeda.
  • Other sources focus on El-Sayed's campaign activities, including his remarks about being "African" and his political stances on Sharia law.
  • Coverage varies on the extent to which El-Sayed's mother's employment is being highlighted as a campaign issue.

Source Perspectives

Left3 sources
Center5 sources
Right10 sources