Michigan: Surge in anti-Muslim hate after Sayed’s primary win — report

Washington — A study by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate found a dramatic rise in anti-Muslim online content targeting Michigan Senate candidate Abdulfatah “Abdul” Sayed following his primary victory on August 4.
According to the report, an average of 155 posts per day mentioning Sayed or anti-Muslim bias were shared between June 1 and August 3. Between August 4 and August 10, those posts surged by 1,895 percent, averaging 3,099 per day. Of the 38,280 Islamophobic posts tracked since January 1, 75.6 percent were posted during that seven-day period, with a single-day peak of 6,923 posts on August 5.
Separately, the center tracked 409,640 posts promoting anti-Muslim prejudice on X (formerly Twitter) from June 1 to August 10, with 11,883 Islamophobic posts recorded on August 5 alone.
The report says many posts falsely tied Sayed to Hamas, Hezbollah and the Muslim Brotherhood, portrayed him as an “Islamic jihadi,” accused him of intending to impose “Islamic law,” and called for his “repatriation.” The center noted the pattern closely mirrors narratives observed during last year’s New York mayoral race, warning that Muslim candidates draw similar conspiratorial tropes when they gain political traction.
Progressive leader and former public health official Abdulfatah Sayed narrowly defeated rival Haley Stevens, who ran as an AIPAC-backed candidate and spent more than $30 million. Sayed will face Republican Mike Rogers in November for the seat being vacated by retiring Senator Gary Peters — a race seen as pivotal to Democrats’ hopes of retaining Senate control.
Sayed’s campaign emphasized lower cost of living, Medicare for All and reducing money in politics, and he has called for ending unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel. President Donald Trump labeled Sayed a “radical left socialist who hates Jews and Israel,” while Vice President J.D. Vance mockingly called him “President AbdulSayed.” When asked about the prospect of becoming the first Muslim American senator, Sayed said he is focused not on being “first” but on representing a bigger, more open-hearted America.