• Zohran Mamdani, NYC’s Democratic mayoral nominee, is under fire after resurfaced comments from his father, Columbia professor Mahmood Mamdani, appeared to defend suicide bombing as a form of modern political violence. Critics argue the younger Mamdani must now answer for his ideological alignment ahead of the November 4 election.

NEW YORK, NY (TDR) — The campaign of New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is facing renewed scrutiny after resurfaced statements from his father, Columbia professor Mahmood Mamdani, appeared to justify suicide bombing as a legitimate political tactic.

The controversy erupted after policy writer Michelle Tandler posted excerpts from Mahmood Mamdani’s 2004 book Good Muslim, Bad Muslim to X (formerly Twitter). The highlighted passages describe suicide bombers as “a category of soldier” and argue the tactic should be “understood as a feature of modern political violence rather than stigmatized as a mark of barbarism.”

Mahmood Mamdani, an academic specializing in political violence and colonialism, has not publicly responded.

Fallout Over Ideological Ties

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Zohran Mamdani, a New York State Assemblyman and self-described democratic socialist, has already drawn national attention after defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in June’s Democratic mayoral primary. The upset victory stunned political observers and triggered calls from some conservatives for President Trump to revoke Mamdani’s citizenship and deport him — despite the fact that Mamdani was born in the U.S. to Ugandan parents.

Now, the younger Mamdani is being pressed to respond to his father’s controversial writings amid lingering questions over his own stance on politically charged slogans. During a June 29 NBC News interview, Mamdani declined to condemn the slogan “Globalize the intifada,” a phrase frequently associated with anti-Israel activism and, historically, violent Palestinian uprisings.

“I wouldn’t use that language,” Mamdani said, “but I will be a mayor who protects Jewish New Yorkers.”

The term intifada refers to Palestinian uprisings in the early 2000s, which included waves of suicide bombings and attacks on Israeli civilians. Critics argue the slogan, and now his father’s writings, raise red flags about Mamdani’s political worldview and public safety priorities.

Growing Pressure from Donors and Voters

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Prominent investor Bill Ackman joined the chorus of criticism, posting, “The apple @ZohranKMamdani doesn’t fall far from the tree.” He later added, “Your policies will be extremely damaging to NYC and all of its residents, in particular the most vulnerable New Yorkers.”

Polling data on the race remains limited, but political strategists say Mamdani’s path to City Hall could be derailed if he fails to decisively address voter concerns over ideological extremism and public safety credibility.

Should a candidate be held accountable for the political writings of their relatives—or does it distract from real policy debates?

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