Saturday, August 8, 2026 - A Michigan imam has come under intense scrutiny after reportedly making remarks celebrating the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham and praying for President Donald Trump to die.
Imam Mohammad Baqer Qazwini is reported to have made the comments during a July 17 Friday sermon at the Islamic Institute of America in Dearborn Heights, shortly after Graham died at age 71. The remarks have drawn renewed attention following Abdul El-Sayed’s victory in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, putting the imam’s political and religious rhetoric under a national spotlight.
The controversy is unfolding as El-Sayed, a 41-year-old physician and former Detroit health director, emerges as the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s open Senate seat after narrowly defeating Rep. Haley Stevens.
His campaign has attracted strong support from progressive figures, including Sen. Bernie Sanders and other prominent Democrats, while critics have focused heavily on the rhetoric of some figures associated with his political coalition. El-Sayed himself is not alleged to have made the statements attributed to Qazwini, making the distinction important as the controversy spreads beyond the primary campaign.
The episode is likely to intensify scrutiny of the political alliances surrounding El-Sayed as he moves toward the November general election. Michigan is a critical battleground for control of the Senate, and Republican candidate Mike Rogers is expected to make El-Sayed’s associations and the broader Democratic Party's direction central issues in the campaign.
For El-Sayed, the immediate challenge will be separating his own platform and record from inflammatory statements made by supporters or political allies while convincing voters that his campaign can appeal beyond the Democratic primary electorate.
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