Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed faces criticism for 2011 study on Arab interethnic births

Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic Senate candidate, authored a 2011 Columbia University paper that concluded Arab women experience higher risks of preterm birth when partnered with non-Arab fathers. The research, appearing in the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, found an 18% higher chance of births before 37 weeks and a 24% increase in births between 34 and 36 weeks for such couples. While the study noted no significant difference for very preterm births, it emphasized broader health concerns tied to interethnic mating.

The paper has been denounced as pseudoscience with a racist and eugenic slant by several public figures. El-Sayed, who identifies as a physician despite not finishing a residency, is campaigning to become the first Muslim U.S. senator.