New York Mayor Mamdani Sparks Outrage by Honoring 9/11 Terrorist’s Lawyer
NYC Mayor Mamdani ignites backlash after signing 9/11 order and handing pen to al-Qaeda-linked lawyer.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority/Wikimedia Commons
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani faced sharp criticism on Friday after signing an executive order related to the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and ceremonially handing the signing pen to his chief counsel, Ramzi Kassem—who once represented an al-Qaeda operative tied to the attacks. The action has been widely condemned by 9/11 families, city officials, and political leaders as deeply insensitive and disrespectful to those who lost loved ones on that tragic day.
Backlash from 9/11 Families and Officials
Families of 9/11 victims had already expressed frustration with Mayor Mamdani ahead of the anniversary ceremonies, with thousands signing petitions urging him to avoid the events honoring the nearly 3,000 lives lost. The controversy escalated when Mamdani signed the executive order on 9/11 commemorations and handed the symbolic pen used in the ceremony to Ramzi Kassem. Kassem is known for defending Ahmed al-Darbi, an al-Qaeda terrorist convicted in 2002 and imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay. Al-Darbi’s familial connection to 9/11 hijacker Khalid al-Mihdhar further fueled outrage.
Republican City Council Member Joann Ariola condemned the gesture, calling it “breathtakingly tone-deaf and disrespectful,” and said it revealed where Mamdani’s loyalties truly lie. “The families who lost loved ones on 9/11 have every right to be outraged. On the 25th anniversary, City Hall should be honoring their sacrifice with dignity, not forcing those families to endure yet another insult,” Ariola stated.
The Pen Ceremony and Its Symbolism
During the signing ceremony, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch was directed by Mamdani to hand the pen to Kassem, who quietly accepted it and left the event shortly after. The pen, a symbol of authority and commitment to the executive order, became a focal point of criticism for its association with Kassem’s controversial legal defense work. Critics argue that entrusting the pen to an individual who supported a convicted terrorist is a provocation to 9/11 survivors and families.
Social media reactions highlighted the insult felt by many New Yorkers. One user wrote, “Handing the ceremonial pen from a 9/11 executive order to a lawyer who defended an Al-Qaeda terrorist isn’t just tone deaf; it’s a direct insult to every family that bled on that dark day.” Such responses underscore the deep emotional wounds still present more than two decades after the attacks.
Voices from the Community and Political Sphere
Firefighter Michael Warchola’s brother Dennis, who lost his sibling at the North Tower, expressed disbelief at the mayor’s decision. “How can you defend a guy like that who wants to do Americans or any innocent person harm?” he questioned. Republican Council Member Vicki Paladino added, “Ramzi Kassem said he was inspired by 9/11—not to join the fight against terrorism, but to defend the terrorists themselves. He doesn’t even belong in this country, much less in our government.”
Paladino further described Kassem’s involvement in the ceremony as “an insult to every New Yorker who survived that day, and indeed all Americans.” She suggested this may have been intentional. Meanwhile, former Democratic political consultant David Sivella speculated that the stunt was designed to send a message to Mamdani’s political base, implying that public expressions of respect for 9/11 victims might be superficial.
Calls to Boycott or Ban Mamdani from 9/11 Events
Paul du Quenoy, president of the Palm Beach Freedom Institute, penned an opinion piece in the New York Post urging Mamdani not to attend the 25th-anniversary ceremonies. “The real barbarism would be for Zohran Mamdani to showcase himself and his disgusting record on terrorism before the survivors and heroes of America’s greatest tragedy,” du Quenoy wrote. He argued that if Mamdani cannot summon the discretion to stay away, he should be banned from the official events altogether.
Despite the mounting pressure, Mayor Mamdani has stated he will attend the 9/11 memorial ceremonies. His presence, however, remains a point of contention among families and many New Yorkers who view the pen gesture as a profound betrayal of the solemn remembrance.
The controversy surrounding Mamdani’s signing ceremony underscores the enduring sensitivity of 9/11’s legacy and the expectations New Yorkers hold for their leaders in honoring one of the nation’s darkest days with respect and unity.
