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Mamdani gives symbolic 9/11 pen to former al-Qaeda lawyer aide
New York Post • • nation
Key Points:
- New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed an executive order recognizing the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and then symbolically handed the pen to his aide Ramzi Kassem, a controversial lawyer who once represented an al-Qaeda operative linked to the Pentagon attack.
- The gesture sparked outrage among 9/11 families and officials, who viewed it as disrespectful and tone-deaf, given Kassem’s legal defense of individuals associated with terrorism.
- Kassem, who founded a legal clinic offering free services to Muslims, defended Ahmed al-Darbi, convicted of terrorism related to al-Qaeda, and other controversial figures, raising questions about his role in the administration.
- Critics, including City Council members and 9/11 family members, condemned Mamdani’s action as an insult to victims and survivors, accusing the mayor of politicizing the solemn occasion.
- City Hall and Kassem did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the controversy.
