In the political arena of New York City, Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani, a mayoral candidate, recently found himself clarifying a statement regarding a family member's experience following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Initially, Mamdani referred to his "aunt" as a victim of post-9/11 Islamophobia, but later corrected himself, specifying that the individual in question was actually his "fathers cousin.".
During a press interaction, Mamdani addressed the confusion, stating, I was speaking about my aunt, I was speaking about Zehra Fuhi my fathers cousin, who sadly passed away a few years ago. He expressed frustration that the focus on his familial connection overshadowed his broader message about Islamophobia, remarking, For the takeaway, for my more than 10-minute address about Islamophobia in this race and this city, to be the question of my aunt tells you everything about Andrew Cuomo.
According to Breitbart, the New York Post highlighted that "fuhi means paternal aunt in Urdu and Hindi," which may have contributed to the misunderstanding. The publication also reported that Mamdani's only known aunt, Masuma Mamdani, was living in Tanzania during the 9/11 attacks, casting doubt on his initial narrative. Internet users further scrutinized Mamdani's claim, noting that Masuma Mamdani, a public health consultant, was seen in photos without a hijab and resided in Tanzania at the time.
Mamdani's remarks were made outside the Islamic Cultural Center of The Bronx, where he recounted, I want to speak to the memory of my aunt, who stopped taking the subway after September 11th because she did not feel safe in her hijab. His comments sparked a wave of criticism, particularly from conservative voices who questioned the appropriateness of his focus.
Breitbart Newss Amy Furr reported Mamdani's assertion that recent political discourse has been shaped by figures like Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa, and Eric Adams. Mamdani accused Cuomo of insensitivity, stating, Yesterday, Andrew Cuomo laughed and agreed when a radio host said that I would cheer another 9/11.
The backlash was swift, with Vice President JD Vance taking to social media to express his disapproval. According to Zohran the real victim of 9/11 was his auntie who got some (allegedly) bad looks, Vance wrote. Reza Chowdhury, CEO and Founder of AlleyWatch, added, He cried for his aunts fear of the subway. Most New Yorkers cried for the associates, friends, family, sons, daughters, parents, parents of friends, colleagues, etc. they lost forever on that dreadful day.
Harrison Fields, a former White House spokesman, also weighed in, offering a poignant reminder of the tragedy's true victims. Zohran, my mom was a detective on the NYPDs Medical Examiners Office on 9/11, Fields wrote. If you want to know the victims of 9/11, shed be happy to fill you in. Another commentator succinctly captured the sentiment of many, stating, You know what I think was the worst part of 9/11? The murdering of 3,000 innocent Americans by radical Islamic terrorists, but thats just me.
Mamdani's attempt to highlight Islamophobia in the aftermath of 9/11 has been overshadowed by the controversy surrounding his familial claims, drawing attention away from his intended message and igniting a broader debate on the political stage.
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