'Pathological Liar And A Gaslighter': New York City Mayoral Frontrunner Zohran Mamdani Under Fire For 9/11 “Aunt In Hijab” Story

New York mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani is under fire online after recounting how his “aunt” stopped riding the subway post-9/11 out of fear while wearing a hijab, India Today reported.

Facing criticism, Mamdani later clarified that the woman he mentioned was actually his father’s distant cousin.

At a press briefing on Monday (27 October), the 34-year-old Assemblyman clarified he was referring to Zehra, his father’s cousin, who died a few years ago.

“I was speaking about Zehra fuhi,” he said, using the Urdu word for paternal aunt. His campaign did not share her full name.

Earlier last week, Mamdani gave an emotional speech describing how Muslim New Yorkers—including his supposed aunt—have faced fear and humiliation since the 9/11 attacks.

"My aunt stopped riding the subway after 11 September because she didn't feel safe being seen in a headscarf," Mamdani had said, visibly emotional.

"These are lessons that so many Muslim New Yorkers have been taught," he added.

Soon after, online users fact-checked his claim, pointing out that Mamdani’s only real aunt, Masuma Mamdani, was living in Tanzania during the 9/11 attacks.

One post read: "Mamdani’s aunt didn’t take the subway after 9/11... because she didn’t live in NYC... she was working in Tanzania. This sociopath can’t help himself".

A photo of Masuma without a hijab added to the controversy, with critics alleging Mamdani fabricated the story.

Another user wrote that he was “a pathological liar and a gaslighter.”

Families of 9/11 victims condemned Mamdani’s statement, calling it “insulting and insensitive.”

Terry Strada, whose husband died in the North Tower, told Daily Mail: "To compare an aunt being uncomfortable on the subway to all of these families that were murdered was just very insensitive and shows his true colours".

US Vice President J D Vance also joined the criticism, posting on X: “According to Zohran, the real victim of 9/11 was his auntie who got some (allegedly) bad looks.”

Mamdani, who serves as a Queens Assemblyman, had previously pledged to embrace his Muslim identity more openly after facing what he called “racist and baseless” attacks from rivals Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.

Recently, Cuomo, during a radio interview, suggested sarcastically that Mamdani would "be cheering" if "another 9/11" occurred, while Sliwa accused him of supporting "global jihad" during a mayoral debate.

Mayor Eric Adams, endorsing Cuomo’s independent run, added that New York “can’t be Europe” due to Islamic extremism.

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Also Read: J D Vance Mocks NYC Mayoral Candidate, Says Mamdani Thinks ‘Real Victim Of 9/11 Was His Auntie’