NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani Praised Convicted Terror Supporters in Music

Zohran Mamdani, a candidate for New York City mayor, previously expressed admiration for the leaders of a now-defunct nonprofit convicted for financing Hamas. In a 2017 rap track uncovered by the anti-hate group Canary Mission, Mamdani, who performed under the stage name Mr. Cardamom, publicly praised the “Holy Land Five” — five individuals involved in the Holy Land Foundation case.

On the song titled “Salaam,” Mamdani states, “My love to the Holy Land Five. You better look ’em up,” referring to the group’s leaders. The foundation’s directors—Shukri Abu Baker, Mohammad El-Mezain, Ghassan Elashi, Mufid Abdulqader, and Abdulrahman Odeh—were convicted in 2008 on charges related to funding Hamas, a terrorist organization, with sentences ranging from 15 to 65 years. Some have already been released.

The Holy Land Foundation, once the nation’s largest Muslim charity, was shut down in 2001 amid allegations of supporting terrorism. Its leaders faced multiple convictions, including supporting terrorism, tax fraud, and money laundering. Images show prominent figures like El-Mezain and Abdulqader arriving at federal courts in Texas during the trials.

In the song, Mamdani also advocates for open borders with lyrics like “No ban. No wall. Build it up. We’ll make it fall,” leading critics and groups opposing extremism to condemn his stance. Canary Mission responded, “Mamdani stands with convicted terrorist funders and wants open borders,” emphasizing it as evidence of his sympathies.

Additionally, Mamdani has a history of anti-Israel rhetoric, such as rapping “No ban. No wall. Build it up. We’ll make it fall,” which groups argue promotes extremism. Miranda critic Sara Forman noted Mamdani’s long-standing anti-Zionist positions, suggesting his past actions reflect his true political stance. As polls show Mamdani as a leading candidate, opponents highlight his controversial ties and rhetoric as disqualifying for leadership.