New York Metropolis Mayor Zohran Mamdani is dealing with backlash after giving a ceremonial pen from a 9/11 remembrance ceremony to a high aide who as soon as represented a convicted al Qaeda member whose brother-in-law hijacked the aircraft that struck the Pentagon.
Mamdani signed govt orders Friday forward of the twenty fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 assaults, designating the date a citywide day of remembrance and repair and strengthening efforts to forestall future terrorist threats.
After signing the ultimate order, Mamdani handed the pen to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch and requested her to move it to chief counsel Ramzi Kassem. Kassem beforehand represented Ahmed al-Darbi, who pleaded responsible to war-crime expenses tied to al Qaeda plots in opposition to business ships and was the brother-in-law of Khalid al-Mihdhar, one of many hijackers aboard American Airways Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon, killing 184.
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NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch arms a ceremonial pen to Ramzi Kassem, who as soon as represented a convicted al Qaeda member tied to a 9/11 hijacker.
The handoff drew criticism on social media, with customers arguing on X that Kassem’s position within the ceremony distracted from an occasion meant to honor these killed within the assaults and the primary responders who died making an attempt to avoid wasting them.
“It is a slap within the face to victims forward of the twenty fifth anniversary of 9/11,” wrote podcaster Benny Johnson on X.
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Ramzi Kassem, Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s chief counsel, beforehand represented Guantánamo Bay detainee Ahmed al-Darbi.
“I sincerely hope the remainder of the nation understands simply how arduous it’s to be in New York Metropolis with this mayor, and particularly as we’re approaching this most severe and solemn day for NYC: 9/11,” wrote former New York state Senate candidate Maria Danzilo.
One other person on X known as it a “deliberate gesture by Mamdani that undermines 9 / 11 but once more with impunity.”
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Metropolis Corridor informed the New York Put up that Kassem attended the ceremony as a result of he and his workforce drafted each govt orders as a part of his duties as chief counsel.
That position has drawn scrutiny as a result of Kassem beforehand represented Ahmed al-Darbi, a Guantánamo Bay detainee who pleaded responsible to war-crime expenses tied to al Qaeda plots in opposition to business ships, together with the 2002 bombing of a French oil tanker off Yemen’s coast. Al-Darbi’s sister was married to Khalid al-Mihdhar, one of many hijackers aboard the aircraft that crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.
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Ahmed al-Darbi, whom Kassem represented, was held on the U.S. navy jail at Guantánamo Bay after being charged in reference to al Qaeda maritime terror plots.
Kassem additionally based a CUNY authorized clinic that gives free illustration to Muslims and represented Mahmoud Khalil, a frontrunner of the pro-Palestinian encampment at Columbia College who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Mamdani’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for remark.
Authentic article supply: Mamdani underneath hearth after symbolic 9/11 pen goes to former al Qaeda protection lawyer