MICHIGAN—Democrat Abdul El-Sayed's U.S. Senate campaign
faces renewed scrutiny due to his father-in-law Tayeb Jukaku's ties to Islamic
organizations implicated by federal prosecutors in a major terrorism financing
case.
Jukaku, a physician and a top donor to the political action
committee supporting El-Sayed, is a founding member of the Islamic Society of
North America (ISNA). According to recently published research, he also serves
on the board of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR).
The case in question is the federal prosecution of the Holy
Land Foundation for Relief and Development. In 2007, U.S. prosecutors
identified ISNA and CAIR, among other organizations, as unindicted
co-conspirators in the investigation. The founders of the Holy Land Foundation
were later convicted of providing material support to Hamas. Prosecutors
alleged that the organization funneled approximately $12 million to Hamas.
This information is politically significant because Jukaku
has made substantial contributions to the Fighting for Michigan committee, a
super PAC supporting El-Sayed's candidacy. According to the Washington Free
Beacon, Jukaku contributed $200,000 to the committee.
The case has sparked criticism questioning the political and
financial ties surrounding the Democratic candidate's campaign. Other reports
have also indicated contributions made by individuals linked to CAIR to
El-Sayed's campaign.