BBC reported that Zohran Mamdani was criticized after attending 9/11 remembrance events, with Zeshan Hamdani, the brother of a Muslim police cadet killed on 11 September, saying he was “disappointed” by the mayor’s presence.
The BBC published a video in which Zeshan Hamdani speaks about his reaction to Mayor Zohran Mamdani attending memorial events, calling his attendance disappointing, according to the broadcaster’s report.
Online attention to Mamdani’s appearance was amplified by a short clip showing him smiling with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; that four-second clip was shared on social platforms and cited in related coverage.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani is the mayor of New York City; his official biography notes he was sworn in on 1 January 2026. The mayor’s faith was mentioned in coverage noting the family reaction to his attendance at the commemorations.
Local reaction included calls from relatives and observers who said the optics were hurtful; BBC’s report carried direct comments from Zeshan Hamdani about being disappointed, which drove much of the initial coverage.
Coverage of the moment and the online clip prompted follow-up reporting and statements; New York City sources and social posts circulated the clip rapidly, making it a focal point of public discussion.
Readers who want more on the visual clip can see local reporting of Mamdani with Rep. Ocasio-Cortez in a related item on this site.
What this story means for Mamdani politically depends on follow-up statements and any responses from his office; for now, the BBC piece and the circulated clip are the core verified items driving reaction.
Sources
- BBC — video and article reporting Zeshan Hamdani’s comments and coverage of reactions to Mamdani attending 9/11 events.
- NYC Mayor’s Office (nyc.gov) — official biography noting Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as mayor on 1 January 2026.
- CNN (shared on Facebook) — short clip of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Zohran Mamdani smiling that circulated online and drew attention.
