El-Sayed Compares Muslim Brotherhood Questions to JFK's Catholic Scrutiny

Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, compared questions about his family's alleged Muslim Brotherhood ties to the religious scrutiny John F. Kennedy faced over his Catholic faith during the 1960 presidential campaign.

El-Sayed said the Constitution guarantees the right to pray as one chooses or not to pray at all. He argued that assuming he has dual loyalties is crazy given his record of protecting the right to choose, LGBTQ rights, and religious freedom.

A heckler identified as Tommy confronted El-Sayed on Saturday about whether he condemns the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed answered yes and asked whether the question assumes he will have dual loyalties, adding that he is running for the U.S. Senate and happens to be Muslim.

Michigan GOP communications director Ted Goodman called the comparison a false equivalence, saying the Catholic Church and the Muslim Brotherhood are not analogous. He said the evidence against El-Sayed consists of actual facts reported by reputable outlets, not hearsay based on faith.

Republican opponent Mike Rogers has claimed without evidence that the Muslim Brotherhood funds El-Sayed's campaign and suggested family members have terrorist links. Donald Trump has mocked El-Sayed's middle name, Mohamed.