Mamdani poses happily alongside Imam Siraj Wahhaj, involved in the ’93 WTC bombing plot

Controversial Campaigning

Zoran Mamdani, a leading candidate for mayor, recently campaigned alongside a well-known Brooklyn imam who has been linked, albeit indirectly, to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. This imam’s son previously operated a camp for children that focused on militant training.

In a recent post on X, Mamdani was seen sharing a light moment with Imam Siraj Wahhaj and City Council member Yousef Abdus Salam at the Imam’s mosque in Bed-Stuy, where they gathered for the weekly Islamic prayers.

“Today at Masjid at Taqwa, I had the pleasure of meeting Imam Siraj Wahhaj, one of the country’s prominent Islamic leaders and a cornerstone of the Bed-Stuy community for nearly 50 years,” Mamdani shared.

He described the day as a “Beautiful Juma,” reflecting on his experience at the weekly prayers.

Mamdani’s appearance seemed to be part of an invitation from the Masjid at Taqwa, in collaboration with a local activist organization, Black Muslims Now.

Delivering a speech before the prayers, he urged attendees to “learn more about what’s coming,” hinting at his ideas for the Black Muslim community as he seeks to become the first Muslim mayoral candidate in New York City.

It’s worth noting that Mamdani’s campaign has not responded to inquiries for additional information.

Imam Wahhaj, now 75, has a complicated history. He was named by prosecutors as an “unindicted co-conspirator” in the infamous bombing that claimed six lives. At the time, he publicly defended those behind the attack, labeling the FBI and CIA as “real terrorists.”

During the trial that followed, Wahhaj spoke in support of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, often referred to as the “blind sheikh,” who led a terrorist organization in Egypt, describing him as a “respected scholar.”

Wahhaj, who was originally named Jeffrey Kurth, made headlines again in 2018 when three of his children were arrested for mistreating 11 children in a remote compound in New Mexico.

A victim informed prosecutors that Wahhaj’s son had been training the children, including a 13-year-old boy and his older sibling, in combat against perceived enemies.