{
  "id": 2114397,
  "title": "Democratic Senate candidate El-Sayed’s mother worked for Hamas, Taliban-linked group",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/democratic-senate-candidate-el-sayeds-mother-worked-for-hamas-taliban",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-20T10:40:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-906096"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed's mother, Fatten Fathy Elkomy, once worked for an organization linked to terrorist groups, according to a recent report. The Midwesterner revealed this information on Tuesday, noting that Elkomy's involvement with the Islamic American/African Relief Agency (IARA) from 1999 to 2004. IARA, based in Khartoum, Sudan, claimed to focus on healthcare and support for disadvantaged communities in conflict zones. However, the US Department of the Treasury accused IARA of collaborating with a Taliban-linked institute and moving funds to Palestinian territories for terrorist purposes, including aiding Hamas in a Western European nation. The Treasury also stated that IARA was connected to an organization founded by Osama Bin Laden, the precursor to al Qaida, and provided financial support to Bin Laden. Additionally, IARA allegedly facilitated the transfer of funds to Iraq, leading to a 33-count indictment against IARA-US in 2007. Despite her denials, Elkomy's LinkedIn profile indicates she currently works as a psychiatric Nurse Practitioner for Missouri Behavioral Health Services since 2013. El-Sayed, who was born in Michigan to Egyptian immigrant parents and earned his medical degree from Columbia University, is running as a progressive Democrat for the US Senate in Michigan, focusing on criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza and alleging genocide.",
  "summary": "Abdul El-Sayed’s mother worked for the Islamic American/African Relief Agency, which the US Treasury designated in 2004 over ties to terrorist financing.",
  "key_points": [
    "Abdul El-Sayed's mother, Fatten Fathy Elkomy, worked for IARA (1999-2004)",
    "IARA accused of aiding Hamas and moving funds to Palestinian territories",
    "Elkomy currently works as a psychiatric Nurse Practitioner in Missouri"
  ],
  "editors_take": "This revelation may complicate El-Sayed's Senate campaign, particularly given his progressive stance on Israel and Gaza, as it raises questions about his family's past ties to organizations with alleged terrorist connections.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}