New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a self-styled progressive Democrat, has been linked to a Brooklyn Mosque where imams have openly prayed for Hamas terrorists, called for the annihilation of Jews, and preached hatred against Christians and Americans.
In a January 2025 post on social media, Mamdani stated that he was attending Jummah prayers at the Islamic Society of Bay Ridge. He also appeared in photos standing next to Imam Muhammad Al-Barr, a religious leader known for praising Hamas and calling for divine guidance for their attacks on Israel.
It was a privilege to join Jummah prayers at the Islamic Society of Bay Ridge today. pic.twitter.com/3WjtQLohtv
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) January 17, 2025
Just five months earlier, Al-Barr had been recorded in the same mosque delivering a prayer calling for violent jihad, “Oh Allah, grant victory to all of them, and do not grant anyone victory over them. Oh Allah, lift the enemy’s hands from them. Oh Allah, protect their honor and their life. Oh Allah, annihilate those who occupied their lands, those who betrayed and deserted them and those who spilled their blood. Annihilate all of them and show us your fierce punishment and revenge upon them.”
He further said, “In 1967, enormous Arab armies were not able to stand in the face of the Israeli aggression for more than 6 days. Our armies were destroyed, and our lands were occupied in a matter of 6 days. The (Arab) armies raised the white flags and retreated from the battlefield. They declared their defeat, and they took pride in this for the whole world to see. This took place in 1967. In 1973, the armies of Egypt and Syria together were not able to keep standing in the face of aggression for more than 3 months. Then disengagement and ceasefire agreements were signed, and so on. And we are talking about armies with many soldiers, armed to the teeth. So what should we say about men who do not have even one percent of what these armies have, and despite this, they are still holding out steadfast, after 316 days? 316 days! We ask Allah to make them strong and guide their shooting. We ask Allah to accept their martyrs. Enormous armies have not been able to hold out steadfastly, and their commanders declared defeat after defeat, while these people receive no support save that of Allah. We ask Allah to reward all this effort and sacrifice with a great victory for them and for all the Muslims.”
#ICYMI: Brooklyn Friday Sermon by Imam Muhammad Al-Barr: Oh Allah, We Ask You to Liberate Palestine from the Occupiers and Annihilate Them; Grant Victory to Our Mujahideen Brothers and Guide Their Shooting pic.twitter.com/IasIkvqEDe
— MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) August 25, 2024
The mosque’s former imam, Reda Shata, has previously been profiled by The New York Times and is known for spreading deeply antisemitic messages. Shata has claimed that Jews are “the biggest liars among all of God’s creation,” attributing their behavior to a so-called “lying gene,” and describing them as “masters of forgery.”
The Islamic Society of Bay Ridge has also been linked to public rallies where Hamas flags were openly displayed and has hosted memorial services for Hamas leaders.
The mosque was also reportedly involved in events surrounding the 1994 murder of a Jewish teenager.
The Islamic Society of Bay Ridge, where Mamdani chose to pray publicly, has a long and documented history of promoting extremist ideologies. Multiple sermons captured and archived by MEMRI (Middle East Media Research Institute) show clerics delivering inflammatory statements targeting Jews, Christians, and non-Muslims.
In one such sermon, a speaker told the congregation, “Teach [your children] to hate everything about kufr (infidels): the holidays, the dress, the manners, and everything.”
Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist and member of the New York State Assembly representing Queens, has previously drawn criticism for his pro-Palestinian stances and controversial rhetoric. Additionally, he has exhibited Hinduphobic behaviour by abusing Hindus. In 2020, Mamdani led an aggressive protest in Times Square against the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. According to videos circulated at the time, slurs like “Hindus are bastards” were shouted during the protest, statements Mamdani has neither disavowed nor clarified. That protest was backed by Khalistani separatists.
NYC Candidate for Mayor Zohran Mamdani led a mob of protestors in Times Square calling Hindus as bastards and heaping abuses upon Lord Rama, who is worshipped by Hindus
A true scumbag pic.twitter.com/r1002yUY70
— Journalist V (@OnTheNewsBeat) May 17, 2025
His critics note that Mamdani often conflates Hindus with India’s ruling BJP, turning political dissent into religious animosity. When fellow politicians like Jennifer Rajkumar and Kevin Thomas refused to denounce Modi during his 2023 New York visit, Mamdani labeled them as complicit, again stoking intra-community rifts.
(With inputs from Front Page Magazine)
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