Mamdani Faces Backlash for 9/11 Muslim Victimhood Remarks in Old Clip

Zohran Mamdani, a candidate for mayor of New York City, is facing backlash due to a resurfaced video from his campaign for the New York State Assembly. In this clip, recorded in February 2020, Mamdani discusses his experiences with alleged anti-Muslim discrimination following the September 11 attacks.

Mamdani’s Remarks on 9/11 and Discrimination

During the video, Mamdani recounts moments from his childhood that illustrate the challenges he faced as a Muslim immigrant. He shares an incident where a teacher warned him and another student about potential bullying on 9/11. Additionally, he describes a disturbing experience at an airport when he was just 15 years old, where he was questioned about possible ties to terrorism while traveling with his family.

According to Mamdani, his identity faced scrutiny in various countries: “In Uganda, I was Indian. In India, I was Muslim, and then, when we moved to New York, I was all of those things.” He expresses a notion that New York offers a sense of belonging, although he acknowledges that this is often accompanied by exceptions.

Criticism and Political Opposition

The highlights from the video have attracted significant criticism from various political figures and activists. Conservative activist Amy Mek played a crucial role in bringing the clip back into the spotlight. She asserts that Mamdani is a “jihadi-Marxist political asset” who exploits 9/11 trauma for electoral gain.

Mamdani’s political journey has been marred by other controversies as well. He faced protests in Manhattan related to his reluctance to denounce Hezbollah unequivocally. This has drawn further attention to his platform as he competes against former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent candidate.

Response from Political Rivals

As the mayoral race intensifies, rival candidates have also commented on Mamdani’s statements. Vice President JD Vance chimed in on social media, highlighting the perceived trivialization of the 9/11 narrative in Mamdani’s claims. Vance stated, “According to Zohran, the real victim of 9/11 was his auntie who got some (allegedly) bad looks.”

• Candidate: Zohran Mamdani
• Event: Resurfaced video from February 2020
• Key Points:
  • Experiences of discrimination post-9/11
  • Incidents of bullying and airport questioning
• Opponents: Andrew Cuomo (Independent Candidate)
• Critics: Amy Mek, JD Vance

The mayoral election in New York City is taking place amid heightened scrutiny of candidates’ past statements. Mamdani must navigate these challenges as he seeks to connect with the electorate in a competitive political landscape.