New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is facing intense scrutiny after fabricating a story about a family member’s experience with Islamophobia following the September 11 attacks. Mamdani, a self-described “democratic socialist” and ally of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, claimed during a campaign event outside the Islamic Cultural Center in the Bronx that his “aunt” had stopped taking the subway due to fear while wearing a hijab. However, investigative reporting revealed that his only living aunt, Masuma Mamdani, resided in Tanzania at the time and did not wear a hijab.

Confronted with the evidence, Mamdani revised his story, claiming he had been referring to Zehra Fuhi, a distant cousin who he described as his “aunt” in Urdu. This clarification raised further questions, as there are no public records confirming Fuhi’s presence in the U.S. during the attacks, and her existence had never been publicly mentioned before. Critics labeled the explanation “conveniently vague” and questioned the authenticity of the story. Mamdani also accused former Governor Andrew Cuomo and conservative media of “weaponizing Islamophobia” against him, attempting to shift attention away from the controversy.

The incident sparked widespread backlash on social media, with observers accusing Mamdani of exploiting 9/11 trauma for political gain. Some also questioned whether the original claim was intended to deflect attention from his past associations with a cleric linked to FBI 9/11 investigations, which Mamdani denies. Political analysts warn the controversy could damage his campaign, already facing accusations of extremism and dishonesty. While Mamdani seeks to refocus on his platform of equity and justice, the episode threatens to overshadow his mayoral bid.