Democratic Candidate’s Mosque Visit Draws Attention
Brad Lander, a Democratic candidate for Congress, made headlines after quoting the Koran during a visit to a mosque where an imam allegedly called for the “killing of infidels.”
While at the Al-Khoi Islamic Center in Queens, New York, Lander, identifying as a “proud Jewish New Yorker,” criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza, according to reports from MEMRI on May 15th. He has shown interest in collaborating with notable figures like New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani and Representative Ilhan Omar from Minnesota.
Brad Lander, a Democratic candidate for Congress in New York, recited verses from the Koran at a Queens mosque and said he wants to work with Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib in Congress. During the same event, the Imam prayed that the Mahdi would kill the infidels with his sword.
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) May 21, 2026
Lander has not yet answered inquiries from the Daily Caller News Foundation regarding the incident.
During his speech, Lander expressed gratitude for the warm reception, citing a verse: “In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful, say: ‘He is Allah. [who is] One, the Eternal Refuge, He neither begets nor is born, and there is no equivalent to Him.’
Reports indicate the imam prayed, “At your hand the believers will be saved, and at your sword the infidels will be killed.”
Lander, now campaigning for New York’s 30th Congressional District, previously served as New York City comptroller and is known for his ties to Mamdani.
Last June, he faced arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement while allegedly involved in an incident related to a Department of Homeland Security employee. His wife, Meg Barnett, an executive at Planned Parenthood, mentioned on social media that the arrest occurred while he was being escorted from immigration court, though he was released later that day, according to CNN.
