Mamdani Marks 9/11 With Move Tied To Al-Qaeda Terrorist

The Ceremony and The Handoff

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed an executive order on Friday. The order marked the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. He gathered senior officials at City Hall for the event. Mamdani signed two companion orders during the session. One established September 11 as a “Day of Remembrance and Service.” The other updated city security protocols for future threats. The ceremony was meant to honor the victims and their families. Instead, the mayor handed the symbolic pen to a controversial figure. He first gave it to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. He then asked her, “Can you pass this?” Tisch passed the pen to Mamdani’s chief counsel, Ramzi Kassem. Kassem is the man who received the ceremonial pen.

Video from the event shows Kassem grinning as he accepted the pen. This moment happened just one week before the 25th anniversary. The location was City Hall in New York City. The date was Friday, September 5, 2026. Mamdani is a self-described Democratic socialist. He appointed Kassem to his administration earlier. The choice raised eyebrows due to Kassem’s legal history. He represented detainees at Guantanamo Bay for years. His former clients include Ahmed al-Darbi, a Saudi al-Qaeda member. Al-Darbi pleaded guilty to terrorism charges in 2014. He was involved in a plot to bomb a French oil tanker. Al-Darbi’s sister was married to one of the 9/11 hijackers.

Families and Officials React

Critics argued that Mamdani’s move was not a mistake. Retired detective Michael Alcazar told The New York Post it was calculated. Alcazar noted the event was for the victims, not politicians. He said families did not come to watch Mamdani spotlight someone linked to the ideology that killed their loved ones. Council Member Joann Ariola called the choice breathtakingly tone-deaf and disrespectful. She stated, “On the 25th anniversary, City Hall should be honoring their sacrifice with dignity, not forcing those families to endure yet another insult.” Senator Rick Scott posted that the actions were morally bankrupt. He called the mayor a disgrace to those who lost loved ones.

Dennis Warchola, whose brother died in the North Tower, expressed his fury. He told the New York Post, “It’s bulls–t.” Warchola said his brother was killed by the very terrorists Kassem once defended. The anger focused on the timing and the recipient of the pen. Kassem had worked for a decade to get a terrorist returned to Saudi Arabia. They succeeded in 2022. He also represented al-Darbi in court. Al-Darbi was transferred to Saudi Arabia in 2018. The connection to the hijackers made the gesture especially painful. Kassem grinning while holding the pen added to the outrage. Per Daily Wire, critics said the choice was intentional.

The Core Question of Loyalty

The incident raises a clear question about who holds power in New York. Mamdani chose to give the pen to a lawyer with deep ties to al-Qaeda. This lawyer represented men who tried to kill Americans. Kassem helped send a terrorist back to his home country. The mayor did not explain why he made this specific choice. The record does not state a motive for the handoff. It only records the action and the reaction. RedState reported that the moment drew immediate fury from officials. The story highlights a clash between official duties and personal associations.

Kassem is now a key figure in the mayor’s office. He serves as the chief counsel. His past work involves national security cases. He litigated for detainees held for decades. The families of the victims feel insulted by the gesture. They believe their sacrifice is being disrespected. Joann Ariola said the families have every right to be outraged. Michael Alcazar said the commissioner was reduced to a prop. The event was meant to be about the victims, and no one else. Per RedState, the enemy is seen as inside the gates.

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