In a recent campaign appearance, New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani posed arm‑in‑arm with Siraj Wahhaj at Brooklyn’s Masjid At‑Taqwa mosque, drawing criticism due to Wahhaj’s historical association with the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Prosecutors previously listed Wahhaj as an unindicted co‑conspirator in the attack that killed six people and injured over 1,000.
Mamdani posted the photograph on social media on October 18, 2025, referring to the imam as “one of the nation’s foremost Muslim leaders and a pillar of the Bed‑Stuy community for nearly half a century.” The photo and post came less than a day after the candidate faced questions regarding his stance on the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas in Israel.
Supporters say the campaign stop signals outreach to the Black Muslim community and reflects Mamdani’s progressive platform focused on public transit, community investment, and housing. Critics argue that the appearance raises serious national‑security and ideological concerns. Wahhaj has made controversial comments in the past and has defended individuals convicted in terrorist plots.
Mamdani has not publicly responded to requests for clarification about his relationship with Wahhaj or the campaign’s vetting process for public‑event partnerships.
