New York, NY (May 24, 2026)
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing renewed scrutiny, as usual, over his past meetings with a Queens imam whose public record includes inflammatory comments about Israel, Hamas, and the Holocaust.
The controversy centers on Sheikh Fadhel Al-Sahlani, the imam of the Al-Khoei Islamic Center in Jamaica, Queens. Mamdani reportedly visited the center multiple times beginning in 2025, including appearances before and after his election as mayor. His most recent visit drew attention because it came after Al-Sahlani had publicly framed Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel in favorable terms and described the group’s actions as having sparked broad change.
Al-Sahlani has also been criticized for past Holocaust-related statements and for accusing Israel of severe misconduct during the war in Gaza. His remarks have alarmed Jewish leaders and critics of the mayor, who say elected officials must be especially careful about appearing alongside religious figures who have made extremist or antisemitic statements.
Mamdani, New York City’s first Muslim mayor, has long been an outspoken critic of Israel’s policies and has faced criticism from Jewish community leaders over his handling of Israel-related issues. His critics argue that repeated contact with Al-Sahlani adds to broader concerns about his approach to antisemitism and Middle East tensions.
A spokesman for the mayor said Mamdani rejects Holocaust denial and does not agree with the imam’s comments about Hamas. The spokesman also said visits to religious institutions should not be interpreted as support for every statement made by individuals connected to those institutions.
Previous New York City mayors have also appeared at events connected to Al-Sahlani, but Mamdani’s interactions have drawn sharper attention because they occurred after the October 7 massacre and amid heightened fears over antisemitism in New York.
The mayor’s office has sought to frame the visits as part of broader outreach to faith communities across the city. Critics, however, say the administration must do more to reassure Jewish New Yorkers that extremist rhetoric will not be normalized or overlooked.