New Delhi: Abdul El-Sayed’s victory in Michigan’s Senate race marks the first time a Muslim has been elected to the US Senate in American political history.
El-Sayed, a 42-year-old former Michigan public health official, defeated Republican Rogers in the race for the seat vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters.
While the focus of Sayed’s campaign was on universal healthcare and taking on corporate influence in American politics, it was also defined by defending his Muslim identity.
From a town hall confrontation over the Muslim Brotherhood to attacks by President Donald Trump and his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, there have been repeated attempts to make his Muslim identity a question of political loyalty.
‘Dual Loyalties’
One of the most viral moments came at a town hall in Caro, Michigan, in October. A voter asked El-Sayed whether he would disavow the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist political movement.
“Sure. Yeah, absolutely. Why are you asking the question?” El-Sayed replied.
Rather than leave the exchange at that, he questioned why he was being asked to make the declaration. He argued that the question assumed he could have “dual loyalties” or a “higher-order allegiance” than to the US Constitution because he was Muslim.
“That’s your assumption. That’s implicit in the question,” he said, before adding,
“And the reality of it is this: I’m never going to tell you what faith you can or can’t practice. I want to protect your right to practice your faith as you choose.”
His reply led to applause among the audience and on social media.
Also read: What Abdul El-Sayed’s victory says about progressives, outsiders and the Democratic Party
‘Call me Senator Muhammad’
The attacks escalated as Election Day approached. Trump repeatedly called El-Sayed a “jihadist”, accused him of being associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, and questioned his loyalty to the country.
At a rally in Michigan in October, Trump invoked the September 11 attacks and Flight 93, suggesting El-Sayed would pose a threat if elected. He also said the Democrat would have to pass through a metal detector before entering the Senate.
El-Sayed responded at a rally in Grand Rapids, saying he was not concerned about Trump remembering or mispronouncing his name.
“I don’t even care that he remembers my whole name because he can just go on and call me ‘senator’ after November,” he said.
He added: “I will be Senator Muhammad to you, bro.”
‘Are you for America?’
The question of his loyalty was also brought up during the final debate between El-Sayed and Rogers.
“Are you for America, or are you for these terrorist groups overseas?” Rogers asked, pressing the Democrat over his alleged links to extremist organisations.
El-Sayed called the question “shameful” and responded by invoking the constitutional right to religious freedom.
“I’m proud of our Constitution that guarantees all of us the right to pray as we choose to pray,” he said.
In the final days of the race, he argued that attacks on his name and faith were distracting from the concerns of voters.
“They might have been pointing to my name and my faith, but we all know my name and my faith are not why you can’t afford your gas,” he said.
(Edited by Maryam Hassan)