Zohran Mamdani has followed in his father’s footsteps by establishing a chapter of a radical Muslim organization at Bowdoin College in Maine, as reported. This Democratic candidate helped co-found a student branch for Palestinian Justice in 2013, just two years after his father, Mahmood Mamdani, had spoken at the group’s inaugural national conference in 2011.
Professor Mamdani, who teaches government and anthropology at Columbia University, stated, “Apartheid South Africa wasn’t openly considered a white democracy, but Israel is.” He further pointed out that Israel’s self-identification as a Jewish state complicates the narrative surrounding its relationship with Palestinians. “In many respects, it’s worse than South Africa,” he claimed.
Mamdani also expressed that Israel’s acknowledgment by the U.S. as a state that “treated” indigenous peoples after European settlement is viewed as inspirational by Zionists. It’s like history is being reinterpreted in a way that serves a particular agenda, which feels unsettling.
“I think it’s not shocking that he’s taken cues from his father, who teaches at a hub for anti-Israel sentiment,” remarked Ali Shuraj, co-founder of Columbia’s Jewish Alumni Association.
Following Zohran’s notable win in the recent Democratic primary, people are scrutinizing his ties to anti-Israel organizations within his family. His father is on the advisory board of a newly established Gaza Court of Justice, which has accused Israel of genocide.
Additionally, Mamdani Sr. has been listed among those to avoid by Campus Watch, a conservative think tank, for contributing to partisan narratives in Middle Eastern studies.
After launching the SJP chapter at Bowdoin, the group maintained a Twitter presence in late 2013. They promoted lectures like “The Winter of Arab Dissatisfaction” and showed support for a boycott of Israel initiated by the American Studies Association.
That same year, the Bowdoin SJP chapter invited a provocative Lebanese-American speaker who controversially suggested that Israel posed a greater threat than Hamas and attributed the September 11 attacks to U.S. actions.
Even after Mamdani graduated in 2015, the Bowdoin SJP Twitter account remained active until late 2015, while the Facebook group lasted until March 2016.
Last year, Palestine Students for Justice conducted camps nationwide, which included significant gatherings at Columbia. Under the umbrella of this movement, the Palestinian American Muslims were highlighted. This group is linked to David Boym’s family, a victim of a Hamas attack in 1996.
Mamdani has vocalized his opposition to indiscriminate violence, claiming, “While I reject Hamas’ methods, Israeli actions are on a scale that exceeds those of Hamas, but this perspective often gets overlooked.” He expressed similar sentiments in a blog post back in 2006.
Recently, portions of Mamdani’s earlier writings have resurfaced on social media, leading to criticism. He argued that suicide bombings stem from the complexities of modern political violence, rather than being deemed simply barbaric.
Hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman recently referenced these excerpts, highlighting the familial parallels with a quip about Zohran not straying far from his father.
During a gathering with business leaders, Mamdani stated he wouldn’t endorse terms like “globalization of intifadas,” cautioning against verbal expressions that could incite violence following attacks by organized protesters.
Requests for comments from Columbia’s Students for Justice in Palestine and Mahmood Mamdani were not returned.
