Mamdani met with radical anti-Israel sheikh multiple times — after he praised Hamas’ attack for inspiring ‘great change’🤬
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has reportedly built a relationship with a radical anti-Israel sheikh, meeting him multiple times in New York City despite the cleric publicly praising Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel as inspiring “great change” for the world.
Mamdani, a staunch critic of Israel, has met with Sheikh Fadhel Al-Sahlani, imam of the Al-Khoei Islamic Center in Queens, at least three times since January 2025, according to the Washington Free Beacon. Al-Sahlani also has a record of Holocaust denial.
The meetings, including Mamdani’s most recent visit in February when he marked Ramadan at the Jamaica mosque, came after Al-Sahlani praised Hamas just weeks after the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre, saying in a Nov. 3, 2023 sermon that “one movement can make a great change.” He said Hamas had made “a big difference” for Muslims and claimed Palestinians suffer injustice, while defending the attack as a response to “injustice.”
He also criticized Congress for approving a $14.3 billion aid package supporting Israel’s campaign against Hamas, accusing Israel of “genocide” and “war crimes” in Gaza. Al-Sahlani has argued that lasting change requires more Muslims in political office, saying people must “stand with those who have suffered injustice,” and describing Palestinians as living in an “open prison” for over 70 years.
Mamdani, New York City’s first Muslim mayor, met with Al-Sahlani three times in 2025 before being elected, including visits to the mosque in January and July, according to videos. He also attended an August 2025 fundraiser on Long Island. In February, after taking office, he again visited Queens for Ramadan and spoke at the same podium where Al-Sahlani made his remarks, saying, “It feels like returning home to be here,” while photos showed the two shaking hands and smiling.
Former mayors including Eric Adams and Michael Bloomberg have also appeared at events with Al-Sahlani, but Mamdani’s outreach has drawn scrutiny given the post–Oct. 7 context and his strained relations with Jewish leaders. He has faced criticism for remarks on Israel and for not clearly condemning the phrase “globalize the intifada.”
Mamdani spokesman Sam Raskin said the mayor rejects Al-Sahlani’s Holocaust denial and comments on Hamas, adding that visits to religious institutions should not be seen as endorsements of every statement made there.
