New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing mounting criticism over his repeated meetings with a controversial anti-Israel cleric in Queens who publicly praised Hamas after the Oct. 7 massacre and has a documented history of Holocaust denial.

According to reports, Mamdani has met several times since January 2025 with Sheikh Fadhel Al-Sahlani, the imam of the Al-Khoei Islamic Center in Queens. The meetings reportedly included multiple visits to the mosque as well as appearances together at community events across New York.

The scrutiny intensified after resurfaced remarks showed Al-Sahlani celebrating Hamas in the weeks following the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attack in Israel, in which terrorists murdered civilians and abducted hostages.

“One movement can make a great change,” the Iraqi-born cleric declared during a Nov. 3, 2023 sermon, where he portrayed Hamas’ assault as resistance against “injustice.”

“What we are witnessing is the one movement, Hamas, has made a big difference not only for the Arab Muslim world, but the whole world. According to anybody who has a sense, who has a spirit of freedom of the people, whoever has that, will learn that Palestinians are the ones who suffer injustice.”

During the same address, Al-Sahlani blasted Congress for approving billions in aid to Israel following the attack, accusing the Jewish state of carrying out “genocide” and “war crimes” in Gaza.

The cleric later argued that Muslims must increase their political influence in America in order to create long-term change.

“When we have been dealt an injustice, we’re giving permission to fight back,” he said, fuming that Arabs and Palestinians have lived in an “open prison” in Israel for over 70 years.

“Now we have to stand with those who have suffered injustice. We cannot make that change unless we’re involved heavily in the political system in the United States, then maybe we can make a little bit of change.”

Mamdani, who became New York City’s first Muslim mayor, reportedly met with Al-Sahlani at least three times during 2025 before winning election to City Hall. Video footage reportedly showed the mayor attending events at the sheikh’s mosque in both January and July.

The two were also said to have appeared together at a Long Island fundraiser later that summer.

In February, shortly after taking office, Mamdani attended a Ramadan gathering at the Queens mosque and addressed the crowd from the same podium where Al-Sahlani had delivered his controversial remarks months earlier.

“It feels like returning home to be here,” Hizzoner told the crowd.

Images from the event showed the mayor smiling and shaking hands with the cleric.

Other New York City mayors, including Eric Adams and Michael Bloomberg, have previously appeared at events involving Al-Sahlani. Critics, however, argue that Mamdani’s outreach to the sheikh carries added significance because it occurred after the Oct. 7 massacre and amid ongoing tensions between the mayor and many Jewish community leaders.

Mamdani has repeatedly faced backlash over his rhetoric regarding Israel. Opponents have accused him of failing to forcefully denounce the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which critics view as a call for violence against Jews.

In response to the controversy, Mamdani spokesman Sam Raskin said the mayor strongly rejects the imam’s views concerning Hamas and the Holocaust.

“Sheikh Fadhel Al-Sahlani’s Holocaust denial and comments about Hamas are diametrically opposed to the mayor’s values and everything he has said and stood for,” he said .

“Like many elected officials, the mayor has visited many houses of worship and religious institutions across New York City. No visit should ever be construed as an endorsement of every statement made by every individual affiliated with those institutions.”

City Hall reportedly declined to elaborate further on the nature of the relationship between Mamdani and the sheikh.

The controversy comes as scrutiny has also intensified around Mamdani’s wife, First Lady Rama Duwaji, over past social media activity that critics say included praise for Palestinian terrorists and harsh attacks against Israel. Reports also claimed she had previously liked posts celebrating the Oct. 7 massacre.

Mamdani publicly defended his wife, while Duwaji later issued an apology in April for the “hurt” caused by the posts, though she stopped short of specifically apologizing for anti-Israel content.

The mayor also drew fierce criticism last week after commemorating “Nakba Day,” the annual Palestinian observance marking what they describe as the “catastrophe” surrounding Israel’s founding on May 14, 1948.

{Matzav.com}