Mayoral frontrunner Zohra Mamdani sparks outrage after smiling alongside Brooklyn Imam long linked to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing
New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohra Mamdani is facing growing backlash after appearing in newly surfaced photos with a Brooklyn Imam once identified as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing — an association that’s raising serious questions about judgment, credibility, and who she chooses to stand beside during her campaign.
Mamdani, a rising figure in progressive New York politics, was seen smiling arm-in-arm with the controversial religious figure at a recent campaign event in Brooklyn, sparking outrage among victims’ families and city residents who still bear deep scars from the city’s first major terror attack on U.S. soil. The Imam in question, long known to federal investigators for his historical ties to extremist individuals, was connected to the 1993 plot that left six people dead and more than a thousand injured. Though never charged, his name appeared in multiple federal case references, and his mosque was once investigated for harboring radical teachings during the height of terrorism concerns in the 1990s.
The controversy erupted online after the New York Post and other outlets highlighted Mamdani’s photos with the cleric, describing the moment as a “troubling show of comfort with an extremist-linked figure.” Conservative and centrist voices alike called it an unacceptable lapse in judgment, particularly for someone running to lead the city most deeply affected by terrorism in American history. One viral social media comment summed it up bluntly: “You don’t get to stand in the shadow of Ground Zero and smile with anyone who was ever linked to that attack — period.”
Mamdani, the daughter of Ugandan-born parents and a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, has yet to issue a detailed apology or statement distancing herself from the Imam. Her campaign’s brief response dismissed the outrage as “political theater,” but many observers said that reaction only made things worse. Critics argue that for a politician who hopes to represent all New Yorkers, showing even symbolic solidarity with anyone connected to the 1993 bombing betrays a lack of moral awareness.
The Imam, who has for years maintained his innocence, has publicly defended his past, claiming his only mission has been to promote peace and faith. Yet reports over the years have linked his mosque to radical clerics and his family to concerning activities — including his son’s involvement in a militant youth camp decades ago. Those revelations, combined with the Imam’s history of controversial remarks about U.S. foreign policy, have made him one of New York’s most polarizing figures.
Political insiders say the photos could become a turning point in the mayoral race, especially as safety, extremism, and law enforcement remain top concerns for voters. In the post-9/11 city, symbolism carries weight — and for many, this image crossed a line. Supporters of Mamdani’s opponents quickly seized on the scandal, saying it revealed “the dangerous naïveté” of New York’s progressive wing and their willingness to overlook radical connections in the name of diversity and outreach.
This isn’t the first time Mamdani’s political ties have sparked controversy. As a state lawmaker, she previously faced criticism for her comments on policing and foreign policy, with opponents accusing her of being “too far left” for mainstream New Yorkers. But this latest episode — centered on an Imam with a history tied to terrorism — may be her toughest public relations battle yet.
As the story spreads, campaign strategists say Mamdani’s silence will only make things worse. In a city that still mourns the victims of the 1993 and 2001 World Trade Center attacks, her alignment with such figures could haunt her ambitions for months to come.
