USA Zohran Mamdani NYC mayoral candidate Under Fire for Praising Convicted Hamas Funders

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Zohran Mamdani Under Fire for Praising Convicted Hamas Funders in Rap Lyrics

 

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is facing intense criticism after it was revealed that he once praised convicted Hamas financiers in a 2017 rap song. The Democratic Socialist and Queens Assemblyman, formerly known as rapper “Mr. Cardamom,” declared his “love” for the Holy Land Five—leaders of a now-defunct charity convicted in 2008 of channeling millions of dollars to Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist group.

 

The controversial lyrics were uncovered by the anti-antisemitism watchdog Canary Mission and released in a video on Friday. In the track titled “Salaam,” Mamdani raps, “My love to the Holy Land Five. You better look ’em up.” He has previously described the song as an ode to growing up Muslim in New York City.

 

The Holy Land Five—Shukri Abu Baker, Mohammad El-Mezain, Ghassan Elashi, Mufid Abdulqader, and Abdulrahman Odeh—were the top officials of the Texas-based Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development. In 2008, following a lengthy investigation and a mistrial the year prior, a federal jury convicted the five men on 108 charges, including providing material support to Hamas, tax fraud, and money laundering. Sentences ranged from 15 to 65 years in federal prison.

 

While three have since been released, the organization was shut down in 2001 by the federal government and designated a terror group after it was discovered that $12 million had been funneled to Hamas under the guise of charitable donations.

 

Canary Mission condemned Mamdani’s words, stating, “Mamdani sent his ‘love’ to convicted Hamas funders. Let that sink in.” The group’s statement also denounced the assemblyman’s broader political views, adding, “Zohran Mamdani stands with convicted terrorist funders and wants open borders. This is New York City — not a sanctuary for terrorists. Zohran Mamdani. Unfit. Un-American. Unthinkable.”

 

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is leading the polls ahead of Tuesday’s Democratic mayoral primary, strongly denounced Mamdani’s comments during a campaign stop in the Bronx. “This is not a pro-Palestinian aid, this is not humanitarian,” Cuomo said. “This is him saying he loves – that is his own words — he loves the Holy Land Five, who are convicted, funders of Hamas. It’s disgusting and despicable.”

 

The Holy Land Foundation operated from 1992 until its closure in the aftermath of 9/11. It had raised around $57 million but reported only $36 million to the IRS. In 2000 alone, it brought in $13 million, making it the largest Muslim charity in the United States before federal authorities shut it down.

Mamdani’s lyrics didn’t stop at support for the Holy Land Five. In another part of the track, he raps, “No ban. No wall. Build it up. We’ll make it fall,” a line that Canary Mission interpreted as a call for open borders and potential national insecurity. “No ban, no wall—that’s an open door for criminals and chaos,” the group warned.

 

Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa also weighed in, saying, “It’s alarming that a mayoral candidate has a history of praising Hamas. New Yorkers reject hate and extremism, and they should reject any candidate who refuses to do the same.”

 

As Mamdani continues to poll in second place behind Cuomo, the controversy surrounding his past lyrics threatens to reshape the dynamics of the Democratic primary, with critics now openly questioning whether his rhetoric and political alliances are compatible with leading America’s largest city.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from NYP  2025-06-24

 

 

[Watawattana]

Luckily, it's unlikely he'll get elected.  He'd probably do well in a UK election though.