The executive director of CAIR’s Ohio chapter, Khalid Thulani, characterized New York City’s recent election of socialist mayor Zohran Mamdani as a “coup” against Democratic elites and a “referendum” on Palestinian and Lebanese resistance, framing it as an ideological challenge to the American political system.
Thulani spoke on Lebanon’s Mayadeen TV shortly after Mamdani’s election, suggesting the outcome signifies a rebellion against the established political order and represents a win for the anti-Israel movement, emphasizing that it has disrupted the Democratic Party’s hierarchy.
“I think Mamdani embodies opposition to the entire American deep state. This unprecedented victory against the traditional Democratic Party is historic,” he stated.
He pointed to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s non-support for Mamdani as a sign of resistance from the establishment, labeling New York Democrats as primarily aligned with Zionism. This, he noted, demonstrates a disconnect despite sharing the same city.
Thulani continued, “Mamdani’s election is essentially a coup against the whole political system, one represented by figures like Andrew Cuomo. It’s also a coup against the Democratic Party, which attempted to sideline Bernie Sanders back in 2015, who shares a similar narrative with Mamdani.”
He cautioned that party elites would exhaust all efforts to remove Mamdani from office, arguing they want to prevent the Democratic Party from adopting a socialist image.
Thulani connected the local election to broader Middle Eastern political dynamics, asserting that “New York City is a bastion for Zionist extremists who back the Israeli occupation.” He claimed Mamdani’s election reflects the struggle of Palestinians and Lebanese.
CAIR emerged as a significant supporter behind Mamdani’s campaign, contributing $120,000 to key PACs through the Unity and Justice Fund. Post-election surveys revealed that 83% of voters for Mamdani identified the Palestinian issue as their primary motivation, which his team interprets as validating their approach to integrate Middle Eastern concerns into local politics.
Activist Linda Sarsour, a close ally of Mamdani, reiterated these ideas at a recent conference, mentioning that “Islamist financial backing” played a crucial role in Mamdani’s success. She vowed to keep him accountable to shared goals. In a similar vein, a memo from an internal Democratic Socialists of America group outlined intentions to pressure Mamdani to uphold his anti-Israel stance once in office.
Thulani, however, is also under scrutiny for his own associations. Recently, he participated in a conference with a prominent Hamas official credited with securing funding for terrorist organizations in Europe. Notably, the event featured other figures known for their links to Hamas.
Senator Tom Cotton has called for a federal investigation into CAIR, suggesting that the organization should lose its nonprofit status due to alleged connections with terrorist groups like Hamas. CAIR was previously named as an unindicted co-conspirator in a significant 2008 terrorist financing case involving the Holy Land Foundation, where its leaders were eventually convicted for funding Hamas.
Mamdani has a history of supporting Palestinian causes, co-founding Students for Palestine Justice during his college days and endorsing the BDS movement since 2014. He has also controversially praised individuals linked to the Holy Land Foundation and has been non-committal regarding Israel’s right to exist as a nation.
