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A prominent Detroit pastor has launched a pointed critique of Michigan’s Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, raising questions about his judicial appointment philosophy and adherence to Islamic law. Pastor Lorenzo Sewell of 180 Church told Fox News Digital that El-Sayed’s potential influence over federal judge recommendations poses a significant concern to voters in the state’s high-stakes race.
Sewell’s objections stem partly from El-Sayed’s 2009 comments to the New York Times about using a Sharia-compliant loan for an Ann Arbor property purchase. El-Sayed, who holds an M.D. from Columbia University but has not completed residency or maintained a medical license, explained at the time that he sought the arrangement to align with his religious principles regarding interest-based financing.
El-Sayed’s campaign responded through spokeswoman Roxie Richner, characterizing Sewell’s remarks as “cheap attacks and hateful rhetoric” from an associate of Republican opponent Mike Rogers. Richner noted that while El-Sayed adheres to his faith’s principles, he opposes efforts to impose religious law on the broader American legal system.
Sewell further criticized El-Sayed’s associations, specifically citing the candidate’s recent campaigning with socialist streamer Hasan Piker. The pastor pointed to Piker’s controversial 2019 remarks that “America deserved 9/11” and his documented antisemitic commentary as grounds for concern about El-Sayed’s judgment in political affiliations.
El-Sayed distanced himself from Piker on Monday following the streamer’s comments on Twitch that critics condemned as antisemitic victim-blaming regarding Jewish Americans and Israel advocacy. El-Sayed reaffirmed his commitment to Jewish safety and called antisemitism a “scourge” requiring action in all its forms.
Sewell, who gained national attention after a viral Dearborn city council speech and hosted former candidate Donald Trump during the 2024 campaign, framed his concerns around cultural assimilation. He contrasted what he termed “conquering religion” with American Christian values, citing Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar as examples of politicians he believes resist integration into mainstream American culture.
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