A seemingly harmless picture shared by the leading candidate for mayor in New York, Zohran Mamdani, during his visit to Masjid At-Taqwa, has sparked controversy in the US. The focus of the uproar is not his visit itself but a cozy photo with an imam suspected of involvement in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
Recently, Mamdani, a 34-year-old of Indian descent, participated in Friday prayers at the Brooklyn mosque where he was photographed smiling and standing alongside imam Siraj Wahhaj, who was named an “unindicted co-conspirator” in the bombing incident that claimed six lives.
Mamdani, a Democrat, shared images with Wahhaj, praising him as one of the country’s top Muslim figures and a key figure in the Muslim community in Brooklyn. This action drew sharp criticism from Republicans, President Donald Trump, and tech mogul Elon Musk.
In a tweet, Mamdani expressed his delight at meeting Imam Siraj Wahhaj, describing him as a prominent Muslim leader and a pillar of the Bed-Stuy community. However, Trump condemned Mamdani for associating with Wahhaj, who has faced scrutiny for making controversial and homophobic statements.
US Vice President JD Vance called on Democrats to condemn Mamdani for collaborating with an alleged co-conspirator in a terrorist plot. Meanwhile, New York Republican representative Elise Stefanik labeled Mamdani a “jihadist” openly campaigning with terrorists.
Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur, simply reacted with a “wow” to Mamdani’s encounter with Wahhaj. Musk, who recently reached a net worth of $500 billion, has previously made indirect remarks targeting Mamdani, who has advocated against billionaires’ existence.
Despite the backlash, Mamdani has remained silent and asserted that he is facing criticism due to his faith and his potential victory in the upcoming election. The controversy has shifted attention to Siraj Wahhaj, the 75-year-old imam of the Brooklyn mosque, who has a history of controversial statements and associations.
While Wahhaj was never charged in connection with the World Trade Center attack, federal investigators have linked some of the suspects to his mosque. Wahhaj has denied involvement in the attack but has voiced support for those associated with it, criticizing the FBI and CIA as the “real terrorists.”
Wahhaj is known to have ties to the convicted terrorist leader Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, also known as the “Blind Sheikh,” who was implicated in the 1993 bombing plot. The imam has made remarks against homosexuality, advocated for harsh punishments like stoning for adultery, and promoted polygamy, drawing attention for his controversial views over the years.
In an older statement, Wahhaj suggested that American Muslims could elect their own leader instead of voting for mainstream politicians like Bush or Clinton, emphasizing the idea of Muslim unity. The controversy surrounding Mamdani’s association with Wahhaj has raised concerns about the imam’s past statements and affiliations.