Mamdani Walks Back 9/11 Story After His False Claim About Hijab-Wearing Aunt
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is under intense scrutiny after being caught providing false details about a relative’s alleged experience with Islamophobia in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. The controversy erupted following a campaign speech in which the candidate delivered an emotional story that later proved to be untrue.
Mamdani, who identifies as a “democratic socialist” and is known for his close political ties with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, shared the account during an outdoor campaign event at the Islamic Cultural Center in the Bronx. Before a crowd of supporters, he appeared visibly moved as he described how a close family member had suffered discrimination after the attacks.
“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,” Mamdani said tearfully, his voice breaking during the address.
The remarks initially drew sympathy from attendees and several media outlets that covered the speech. However, the narrative began to unravel within two days as independent researchers and online investigators examined public records and family information. They discovered that Mamdani’s only living aunt, Masuma Mamdani, was residing in Tanzania during the early 2000s and did not wear a hijab.
Further documentation showed that Masuma Mamdani worked as an educator in Dar es Salaam around the time of the attacks. Archived photos and professional records confirmed her presence in East Africa, far from New York City, and made no mention of her wearing traditional Islamic head coverings.
The revelations sparked immediate outrage across social media, with users accusing the candidate of exploiting a sensitive national tragedy for political messaging. The discovery also raised questions about his credibility and campaign transparency just weeks before a critical phase of the mayoral race.
Faced with mounting evidence, Mamdani abruptly changed his account on Monday — a shift that only deepened public skepticism and prompted new questions about his motives and honesty.