Mayor-elect Zoran Mamdani has appointed a contentious lawyer, Ramzi Qassem, to a key position at City Hall. Qassem, known for defending al-Qaeda affiliates and vocal anti-Israel activists at Columbia University, is reported to be the frontrunner for the chief counsel role, which is crucial for advisory functions in the mayor’s office.
At 47, Qassem, a law professor at the City University of New York and part of Mamdani’s legal transition team, previously defended Mahmoud Khalil. Khalil, the head of a pro-Palestinian group at Columbia, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement but was released after a judge’s ruling following 104 days in custody.
Additionally, Qassem represented terrorist Ahmed al-Dalbi, affiliated with al-Qaeda, convicted in the bombing of a French oil tanker in 2017 off Yemen’s coast.
Political figures, such as Ken Friedman, expressed that Qassem’s selection will likely not sit well with the Jewish community. Friedman remarked, “While everyone deserves legal representation, it does not mean he should be in a position like this.”
Born in Syria, Qassem has been involved in anti-Israel protests during his law school years at Columbia. Records show he was part of a fellowship funded by the Soros family, which is associated with left-leaning activism.
In 1999, he controversially wrote to the Columbia Spectator objecting to the term “Israel Rap,” claiming it was offensive to Muslims and Arabs. He has also described Israel’s actions as “a clear case of ethnic cleansing” and has called the idea of a two-state solution “neither viable nor desirable.”
Officials with a different perspective see Qassem as a strong candidate, emphasizing the need for fresh leadership in the corporate counsel’s office. Attorney Ron Kuby remarked that changes have long been due in that area.
In 2009, Qassem founded a law clinic at CUNY aimed at providing free legal help to Muslims and other communities in New York. This nonprofit, CLEAR, has benefitted from substantial funding—over $3 million—from progressive philanthropist George Soros’ Open Society Foundations.
In 2022, he was appointed a senior policy adviser on immigration by the Biden administration.
Both Qassem and Mamdani’s campaigns have not yet responded to inquiries for comment.
Qassem is not the only contentious figure in the running. Previously, it was reported that Stephen Banks, another lawyer with activist ties, was on the shortlist for general counsel, raising concerns about whether he would incorporate activist perspectives into that role.
Qassem was recognized by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a prominent Muslim civil rights organization, for his legal defense of Khalil. Interestingly, both Texas and Florida have recently classified CAIR as a foreign terrorist organization.
