Mayoral Hopeful’s Campus Group Hosted Speaker Who Blamed U.S. for 9/11 and Admired Terror-Linked Leader

 

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist who recently surged to victory in New York City’s Democratic primary for mayor, is facing scrutiny for his past involvement with a college group that invited a controversial speaker who later blamed the United States for the September 11 terror attacks.

In 2013, while attending Bowdoin College, Mamdani co-founded the campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), a group that invited Lebanese-American professor As’ad AbuKhalil to speak about Middle Eastern politics. The visit has resurfaced as a point of contention, given AbuKhalil’s inflammatory remarks and ties to individuals widely condemned for promoting terrorism.

 

 

Speaking in 2021, AbuKhalil asserted that the United States bore responsibility for the 9/11 attacks. “We have to remember that the US basically was hit on 9/11 by forces that were reactionary and fanatic and were raised and armed and sponsored by America and its allies in the Middle East,” he said. He added, “People forget that 9/11 is a repercussion of the Cold War when the US made its bed and clearly with the religious fanatics of the Muslim world.” While acknowledging the tragedy of 9/11, noting “it’s heart-wrenching remembering all these people who came from 80 nationalities, the ones who died on 9/11 here in the United States,” AbuKhalil contended, “but there were many earlier 9/11s that the US inflicted on people around the world.”

 

 

AbuKhalil, who teaches at California State University Stanislaus, has also praised George Habash, the founder of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), an organization classified as a terrorist group by the United States since 1997. “He was a great Palestinian leader,” AbuKhalil said during a 2012 appearance in Edinburgh. “Of course if you look at newspapers he would be seen as terrorist,” he added, while crediting Habash as having “tremendous influence” on his thinking. Time magazine once described Habash as “the godfather of Middle East terrorism,” and the Anti-Defamation League noted that his PFLP gained notoriety in the 1970s for a wave of airplane hijackings.

 

 

Mamdani’s SJP chapter has been involved in other controversial activities over the years, and his past affiliations and statements have drawn growing criticism as his political profile rises. He has previously come under fire for appearing to defend al Qaeda figure Anwar al-Awlaki in resurfaced tweets. Al-Awlaki, a known extremist preacher, was killed in a drone strike authorized by President Barack Obama.

 

In another contentious revelation, Mamdani reportedly identified himself as both “African American” and “Asian” on a college application to Columbia University, which ultimately rejected him. Born in Uganda, Mamdani is of South Asian descent.

 

Though Mamdani won the primary in a landslide, besting former Governor Andrew Cuomo and current Mayor Eric Adams among others, his general election battle is far from over. He faces Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa and a trio of other contenders—Adams, Cuomo, and entrepreneur Robyn Walden—who are running on minor party lines. Despite his commanding primary win, establishment Democrats have so far withheld endorsements, reflecting concern among moderates desperate to prevent Mamdani’s far-left platform from taking control at City Hall.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from NYP  2025-07-10

 

 

3 hours ago, Social Media said:

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist who recently surged to victory in New York City’s Democratic primary for mayor, is facing scrutiny for his past involvement with a college group that invited a controversial speaker who later blamed the United States for the September 11 terror attacks.

 

Do American Liberals hate America as much as British lefties hate Britain?

 

If so, this could work to his advantage. 

10 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Do American Liberals hate America as much as British lefties hate Britain?

 

If so, this could work to his advantage. 

No, they just hate their pathetic life and need a cause to add value.  Most grow out of it and become normal lefties.  The issue with the party is the petty tyrants on the extreme left became the face of the party, resulting in people like myself supporting a President that is ethically challenged. 

 

We need someone like Trump that is strong enough to hopefully obliterate the insane extreme left and hopefully get the liberals addressing issues that the majority of Americans see value in supporting.  Think there is value in having a strong left that is legitimately concerned about normal Americans.

If elected and NYC becomes a circus then will provide a valuable lesson

7 minutes ago, angryguy said:

If elected and NYC becomes a circus then will provide a valuable lesson

 

No need to ruin NYC.

 

You could look to London for such a lesson. 

Just now, JonnyF said:

 

No need to ruin NYC.

 

You could look to London for such a lesson. 

Im not sure if Americans are paying attention to that. Many British people havent learned anything either

51 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Do American Liberals hate America as much as British lefties hate Britain?

Yes of course they do, though even more so.

The desperation is showing:

 

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist who recently surged to victory in New York City’s Democratic primary for mayor, is facing scrutiny for his past involvement with a college group that invited a controversial speaker who later blamed the United States for the September 11 terror attacks.

Let’s pick out the bit that matters.

 

Zohran Mamdani (A Muslim) 

 

Democratic Socialist (A socialist!)

 

who recently surged to victory in New York City’s Democratic primary for mayor (Oh no he’s beat the old guard in a primary - Panic, he might win the election).

 

Now the nonsense accusations:

 

facing scrutiny for his past involvement with a college group that invited a controversial speaker who later blamed the United States for the September 11 terror attacks. (scrutiny from whom?

 

Past involvement with a college group that invited  a controversial speaker who later blamed the United States for the September 11 terror attacks)

 

Guilt by association with a guy who said something stupid even though the association is ridiculous and in any case the stupid remarks were made at a later date.

 

 

 

well... not saying the reasoning is reasonable, but Osama BL did say 9-11 was revenge on US for keeping troops (most infidels, ya think?) in Saudi Arabia after kicking Iraq's butt. He had other "reasons" but that one was in there. 

I was surprised the US kept troops in Saudi after Desert Storm because it was such a sensitive topic for the whack job hard core Muslims there.

Not to justify any of the latest blather, but there often is some truth in big lies

18 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The desperation is showing:

 

Let’s pick out the bit that matters.

 

Zohran Mamdani (A Muslim) 

 

Democratic Socialist (A socialist!)

 

who recently surged to victory in New York City’s Democratic primary for mayor (Oh no he’s beat the old guard in a primary - Panic, he might win the election).

 

Now the nonsense accusations:

 

facing scrutiny for his past involvement with a college group that invited a controversial speaker who later blamed the United States for the September 11 terror attacks. (scrutiny from whom?

 

Past involvement with a college group that invited  a controversial speaker who later blamed the United States for the September 11 terror attacks)

 

Guilt by association with a guy who said something stupid even though the association is ridiculous and in any case the stupid remarks were made at a later date.

 

 

 

Surprise surprise! Chomper is telling us what matters.  I assume that is where we all stopped reading 🙂

7 minutes ago, atpeace said:

Surprise surprise! Chomper is telling us what matters.  I assume that is where we all stopped reading 🙂

Feel free to comment on the topic of discussion, AKA the OP.

 

I’ve given my view, I’d like to hear yours, if you have one.

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

Feel free to comment on the topic of discussion, AKA the OP.

 

I’ve given my view, I’d like to hear yours, if you have one.

Nope- been there and done that with you.  You have lost too much creditability and the herd of mean spirited individuals you belonged to a few years back has thankfully disappeared for the most part.  Must be lonely 🙂

5 minutes ago, atpeace said:

Nope- been there and done that with you.  You have lost too much creditability and the herd of mean spirited individuals you belonged to a few years back has thankfully disappeared for the most part.  Must be lonely 🙂

Try this, you’ll find it at the top of the thread:

 

“Zohran Mamdani’s Campus Group Hosted Speaker Who Blamed U.S. for 9/11”

 

 

33 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The desperation is showing:

 

Let’s pick out the bit that matters.

 

Zohran Mamdani (A Muslim) 

 

Democratic Socialist (A socialist!)

 

who recently surged to victory in New York City’s Democratic primary for mayor (Oh no he’s beat the old guard in a primary - Panic, he might win the election).

 

Now the nonsense accusations:

 

facing scrutiny for his past involvement with a college group that invited a controversial speaker who later blamed the United States for the September 11 terror attacks. (scrutiny from whom?

 

Past involvement with a college group that invited  a controversial speaker who later blamed the United States for the September 11 terror attacks)

 

Guilt by association with a guy who said something stupid even though the association is ridiculous and in any case the stupid remarks were made at a later date.

 

 

 

Myopic are you? Take a couple steps back and look at the broader context here. The left has been hijacked by by extremest, anarchistic, antifa, BLM murderous thugs and American hating commies like mamdani. And all the while you and your left politicians are standing by in complacency watching them burn down your political party and one day you’ll wake up in apathy to see it completely destroyed, your Democratic Party will be null.

5 minutes ago, khunJam said:

Myopic are you? Take a couple steps back and look at the broader context here. The left has been hijacked by by extremest, anarchistic, antifa, BLM murderous thugs and American hating commies like mamdani. And all the while you and your left politicians are standing by in complacency watching them burn down your political party and one day you’ll wake up in apathy to see it completely destroyed, your Democratic Party will be null.

An alternative view is both political parties have been high jacked by lobby groups and big money ‘political donations’.

 

Zohran Mamdani has not and is speaking to the concerns of ordinary New Yorkers.

 

A candidate that addresses the concerns of voters rather than the agenda of ‘sponsors’ is a refreshing change.

13 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Try this, you’ll find it at the top of the thread:

 

“Zohran Mamdani’s Campus Group Hosted Speaker Who Blamed U.S. for 9/11”

 

 

Who co founded that very Campus Group? Was it the very same Zohran Mamdani’ by any chance? The OP tells us it was.

 

His previous tweets also reveal that its far more than just association.

 

Mamdani claimed FBI was responsible for radicalizing infamous al Qaeda terrorist 

https://nypost.com/2025/07/06/us-news/mamdani-once-appeared-to-defend-al-qaedas-anwar-al-awlaki/

 

He's a terrorist sympathizer and here you are defending him.

3 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

An alternative view is both political parties have been high jacked by lobby groups and big money ‘political donations’.

I can agree with that.

3 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Zohran Mamdani has not and is speaking to the concerns of ordinary New Yorkers.

 

A candidate that addresses the concerns of voters rather than the agenda of ‘sponsors’ is a refreshing change.

I cannot agree with that. His sponsors are antisemitic hater’s of America.

14 minutes ago, khunJam said:

I can agree with that.

I cannot agree with that. His sponsors are antisemitic hater’s of America.

Such as Jerry Nadler, Brad Lander, Bernie Sanders, Rabbi Andy Kahn, Rabbi Abby Stein, Rabbi Barat Ellman, Rabbi Ellen Lippmann, Rabbi Nancy H. Wiener, and Rabbi Miriam Grossman?

 

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/we-are-nyc-rabbis-who-support-zohran-mamdani-heres-why/

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Such as Jerry Nadler, Brad Lander, Bernie Sanders, Rabbi Andy Kahn, Rabbi Abby Stein, Rabbi Barat Ellman, Rabbi Ellen Lippmann, Rabbi Nancy H. Wiener, and Rabbi Miriam Grossman?

 

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/we-are-nyc-rabbis-who-support-zohran-mamdani-heres-why/

No such as the majority of Jews in NYC the largest Jewish population of any city in the world outside Israel.

 

New York Mayor Adams officially announces reelection bid alongside Jewish community leaders

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/new-york-mayor-adams-officially-announces-reelection-bid-alongside-jewish-community-leaders/

 

Jewish Democrats in Congress sound the alarm on Mamdani

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5390953-jewish-democrats-in-congress-sound-the-alarm-on-mamdani/

 

Why has he refused to condemn 'globalize the intifada,'? 

 

Mamdani’s statement drew fire from Jewish leaders, including the head of the Anti-Defamation League, Jonathan Greenblatt; Ted Deutch, the CEO of the American Jewish Committee; and Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, the head of New York City’s Stephen Wise Free Synagogue. Deutch wrote, “‘Globalize the intifada' is not a call for justice. It’s a call for violence. It’s incitement… [All candidates] should condemn the use of ‘globalize the intifada' as the call to violence that it is.”

https://www.mideastjournal.org/post/what-does-globalize-the-intifada-mean

 

Why did he try to compare the holocaust with the intifada?

 

"the US Holocaust Memorial Museum decried the comparison of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising with the phrase Globalize the Intifada. “Exploiting the Museum and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising to sanitize ‘globalize the intifada’ is outrageous and especially offensive to survivors. Since 1987, Jews have been attacked and murdered under its banner. All leaders must condemn their use and the abuse of history.”

 

Jonathan Greenblatt, the chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League, decried the phrase on X as an “explicit incitement to violence.” Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., who is Jewish, said in a statement that the word “intifada” is “well understood to refer to the violent terror attacks against innocent Israeli civilians that occurred during the First and Second Intifadas.”

“If Mr. Mamdani is unwilling to heed the request of major Jewish organizations to condemn this unquestionably antisemitic phrase,” Goldman added, “then he is unfit to lead a city with 1.3 million Jews — the largest Jewish population outside of Israel.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nyc-mayoral-candidate-zohran-mamdani-draws-criticism-intifada-remarks-rcna213967

 

5 hours ago, atpeace said:

Surprise surprise! Chomper is telling us what matters.  I assume that is where we all stopped reading 🙂

 

Comrade Chomper of you don't mind!

31 minutes ago, proton said:

 

Comrade Chomper of you don't mind!

Thank you for your compliment.

Dems & Pubs are both irrelevant. NYC has been a rebirth of Tammany Hall for a long time.

 

Yes, democratic & socialist. And he knows how to party! That's the party we need.

 

Mr. Cardomom -- Zohran with Indian celebrity chef, Madhur Jaffrey, who obviously knows how to party, too.

 

I wonder what will happen if he wins and is successful. 

That's all.

I would actually like to see Mamdani win because then NY citizens will get what they deserve. They want NY to become Socialist-Communist. They are clueless about the effects he will have, and then they won't vote Democrat ever again.  This victory will ensure that Trump wins the 2026 elections.

21 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

Do American Liberals hate America as much as British lefties hate Britain?

 

If so, this could work to his advantage. 

Yes, American Liberals hate America.

On 7/9/2025 at 5:31 PM, JonnyF said:

 

Do American Liberals hate America as much as British lefties hate Britain?

 

If so, this could work to his advantage. 

Naa nothing so dramatic this is just the start of the retrumplicans smear campaign,it’s what they do.heck your presious diety Donald used to do with his pal David pecker,manulipate the press via the national enquirer…..he’s an expert at it heck he’s still at it on a larger scale and guys like you just gobble it up.