Mamdani’s Clarification Deepens Confusion as Critics Demand Accountability

After being confronted with evidence disproving his claim, Zohran Mamdani attempted to clarify the story by saying he had not meant his biological aunt, but another relative. His explanation, however, introduced more inconsistencies and intensified the scrutiny surrounding his campaign.

“I was speaking about my aunt, I was speaking about Zehra Fuhi, my father’s cousin, who sadly passed away a few years ago,” Mamdani said in an interview. “Fuhi means paternal aunt in Urdu and Hindi.”

Reporters quickly noted that “Zehra Fuhi” had never been publicly referenced by Mamdani or his family before. There are no verifiable records of a person by that name residing in the United States during or after the September 11 attacks, leading to further doubts about the candidate’s account. Linguistic experts also pointed out that “Fuhi” is not a common surname, suggesting that the word may have been used as an improvised term rather than a legitimate identifier.

As criticism mounted, Mamdani accused political opponents of exploiting the issue. “For the takeaway from my more than 10-minute address about Islamophobia to be the question of my aunt tells you everything about Andrew Cuomo and his inability to reckon with a crisis of his own,” he said defiantly, seeking to redirect attention toward former Governor Cuomo and other adversaries.

Despite his efforts to reframe the discussion, the controversy has overshadowed Mamdani’s broader campaign themes of “equity” and “justice.” Analysts warn that the scandal could damage his credibility among both supporters and undecided voters. The incident has also revived questions about his past appearances alongside a Bronx imam previously named in FBI files related to post-9/11 investigations — an association Mamdani strongly denies.

Political strategists describe the situation as a serious test of integrity in a campaign already dogged by allegations of extremism and questionable transparency. One veteran Democratic consultant observed, “He’s running on identity and empathy, and now he’s been caught manufacturing both.”

As Mamdani attempts to steer the conversation back to policy issues, the fallout from the fabricated family story continues to ripple through New York’s political scene, threatening to reshape the dynamics of an already contentious mayoral race.