NYC Mayor Mamdani Gives 9/11 Pen to Al-Qaeda Terrorist's Former Lawyer
Far RightRigor 559 sources
The Story
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed two executive orders on Friday, September 4, 2026, marking the city's official recognition of the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 Islamic terror attacks. He then handed the ceremonial pen to his chief counsel, Ramzi Kassem. Kassem previously represented Ahmed al-Darbi, a Saudi al-Qaeda member who pleaded guilty to terrorism charges in the 2002 bombing of the French oil tanker MV Limburg. Al-Darbi's sister was married to Khalid al-Mihdhar, one of the five hijackers aboard American Airlines Flight 77, which struck the Pentagon. Council Member Joann Ariola called Mamdani's choice breathtakingly tone-deaf and disrespectful, stating it shows exactly where his loyalties truly lie. Senator Rick Scott posted that Mamdani's actions are morally bankrupt. Retired detective Michael Alcazar told The New York Post that Mamdani's move was calculated. The first executive order establishes September 11 as an official New York City "Day of Remembrance and Service," including a citywide moment of silence. The second order updates the city's emergency preparedness and continuity plans. Many 9/11 families plan to ignore Mamdani if he attends this year's memorial at Ground Zero, with over 98,000 people signing a petition asking organizers to keep him away.
The Spread
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What they agree on
- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed executive orders marking the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
- Mamdani handed the ceremonial pen to his chief counsel, Ramzi Kassem.
- Ramzi Kassem previously represented Ahmed al-Darbi, an al-Qaeda member convicted of terrorism.
- Ahmed al-Darbi had a connection to 9/11 through his sister, who was married to hijacker Khalid al-Mihdhar.
- Critics, including Council Member Joann Ariola and Senator Rick Scott, condemned Mamdani's action as disrespectful and calculated.
Where they split
- The Daily Wire and The Western Journal frame Mamdani's action as a "slap in the face" or a "direct insult" to 9/11 families.
- FrontPage Magazine and RedState emphasize the specific detail that Kassem represented the "20th 9/11 hijacker" or an al-Qaeda terrorist with links to the Pentagon attack.
- PJ Media and Twitchy use more charged language, with headlines like "Wow: Did Mamdani Just Drop the Mask" and "He Did It on Purpose: NYC Mayor Mamdani Hands 9/11 Pen to Al-Qaeda Lawyer, Traitor."
- Al Bawaba focuses on Mamdani's political support for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, providing broader context on his political affiliations.
Source Perspectives
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