Viral Dearborn pastor delivers blunt warning on El-Sayed Senate bid: ‘Can you imagine?’

Michigan Senate race heats up as Black pastor warns of “Sharia” influence

Detroit – In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Black Christian pastor Lorenzo Sewell of 180 Church in Detroit expressed strong opposition to Michigan’s Democratic Senate nominee, Abdul El‑Sayed, claiming that an El‑Sayed victory would usher in “Sharia law” across the United States.

Sewell, who first gained national attention in 2023 when he clashed with Dearborn city council members in a viral video, said: “Can you imagine him being in the Senate, being able to recommend federal judges to presidents?” He added that El‑Sayed’s “goal is to be able to recommend federal judge to presidents for appointments, and then we’re going to find ourselves in Sharia law all over this land.” The pastor also warned that if Christian ministers and “patriots” do not step up against Sharia law, his own church “would become a mosque.”

The comments come in the midst of the high‑stakes 2024 Michigan U.S. Senate contest, in which Republican nominee Mike Rogers faces Democratic nominee Abdul El‑Sayed, a former U.S. Attorney and medical school graduate who has been a vocal advocate for Muslim civil rights.

El‑Sayed’s spokesman, Roxie Richner, called Sewell’s remarks “cheap attacks and hateful rhetoric” from an ally of Rogers. “While he lives by the rules of his faith, as many Americans of various faiths do, Abdul opposes any effort by any religious community to write their faith laws into the laws of our country,” Richner said. She noted that El‑Sayed has repeatedly stressed that he does not support embedding religious law in the federal legal system.

In the interview, Sewell also criticized El‑Sayed’s medical credentials, calling him a “fake doctor” and noting that although El‑Sayed earned an M.D. from Columbia University, he never completed a residency and has never been licensed to practice in Michigan or New York. He further attacked El‑Sayed’s association with YouTube streamer Hasan Piker, who has previously made controversial remarks about 9/11 and antisemitism. “There’s treason for you to say those type of words, that America deserves 9/11,” Sewell said. “The demonic version of Kirk.”

El‑Sayed has since distanced himself from Piker after the streamer’s comments linking American Jews to Israel were widely condemned as antisemitic victim‑blaming. In a statement, El‑Sayed said all Americans should be able to advocate for their beliefs without fear of violence and reaffirmed his commitment to Jewish safety. He described antisemitism as a “scourge that must be addressed in all its forms.”

The controversy is not new for El‑Sayed. In a 2009 interview with the New York Times, he was asked whether he followed Sharia law. He replied that he was following Sharia law when he took out a special loan for an Ann Arbor condo, explaining that Sharia law typically prohibits interest on loans. El‑Sayed said, “Ultimately, when I die and I stand before God and go through everything I did in my life, I don’t want to say I did it the easy way instead of the Shariah‑compliant way.” The comment has been widely cited by opponents.

Sewell, meanwhile, has a history of political engagement. He hosted former President Donald Trump during the 2024 campaign and spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2016. His recent viral video from a Dearborn city council meeting, in which he declared, “We are not a nation of Muslims, we are nation of Christians! America, we have lost this city. This is a city that is no longer up under American laws; we are up under Sharia law. We will not have it anymore,” has added fuel to the debate.

Michigan lawmakers have said they remain focused on the policy issues at stake in the Senate race, including healthcare, education, and economic development. Republican candidate Mike Rogers has pledged to prioritize job creation and infrastructure, while El‑Sayed has emphasized civil rights, environmental protection, and a comprehensive immigration reform bill.

Both candidates have declined to comment on the pastor’s recent statements. Representative Ilhan Omar and Representative Rashida Tlaib, who Sewell named as Muslim politicians “not looking to assimilate,” have not responded to requests for comment.

The debate over faith, public policy, and national identity in Michigan’s Senate race underscores how