Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic front-runner in the New York City mayoral race, made headlines Friday when he appeared arm-in-arm at a Brooklyn mosque led by Imam Siraj Wahhaj. The appearance was striking because Wahhaj has a long, controversial history that draws sharp scrutiny from conservatives. Republican critics argue the visit shows poor judgment at a time when voters care about safety.
Federal prosecutors once named Wahhaj among dozens “who may be alleged to be co-conspirators” in the trial of men convicted in plots tied to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. That attack killed six people and injured more than 1,000, and it remains an ugly chapter in the city’s past. For many Republicans, any public embrace of figures tied to that era demands a clear explanation.
Three of Wahhaj’s children were sentenced to life in prison in 2024 after jurors found they had helped run a training compound in New Mexico allegedly used to plan attacks against the U.S. government. The convictions included counts for terrorism, kidnapping, and conspiracy to murder. Wahhaj says he cooperated with authorities and pointed police to the site, but skeptics say cooperation does not erase prior connections.
In the 1990s Wahhaj served as a character witness for Omar Abdel-Rahman, the cleric later sentenced to life in prison. Wahhaj testified he had met Abdel-Rahman on multiple times and described him as a “respected scholar.” Prosecutors have tied Abdel-Rahman to plans to murder Americans and attack military and diplomatic targets.
Several people tied to the World Trade Center bombing reportedly attended or visited Wahhaj’s Brooklyn mosque around the time of the massacre. “In time, this so-called democracy will crumble, and there will be nothing. And the only thing that will remain will be Islam,” Wahhaj once said in a sermon, according to The Wall Street Journal. Those words have become a focal point for critics who worry about the imam’s influence.
Despite that backdrop, Mamdani visited the mosque and publicly praised Wahhaj’s role in the community. “Today at Masjid At-Taqwa, I had the pleasure of meeting with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, one of the nation’s foremost Muslim leaders and a pillar of the Bed-Stuy community for nearly half a century,” Mamdani Friday on X. Conservatives say the praise blurs lines between community outreach and appearing to legitimize a controversial figure.
Wahhaj posted an Instagram video on June 16 endorsing Mamdani and calling him a “very good candidate.” He also contributed $1,000 to a super PAC that later directed money toward groups backing Mamdani, a financial trail that has raised eyebrows among opponents. Critics argue the donation and endorsement together merit closer scrutiny of the candidate’s associations.
The political optics matter because Mamdani leads the mayoral field in recent polling, giving his actions outsized influence. An Oct. 16 survey put him at 52 percent among likely voters, Andrew Cuomo at 28 percent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa at 14 percent. That gap makes Republican strategists all the more determined to press questions about Mamdani’s alliances.
Mamdani’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and Wahhaj could not be reached.
Darnell Thompkins is a Canadian-born American and conservative opinion writer who brings a unique perspective to political and cultural discussions. Passionate about traditional values and individual freedoms, Darnell’s commentary reflects his commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue. When he’s not writing, he enjoys watching hockey and celebrating the sport that connects his Canadian roots with his American journey.