As New York City approaches the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, divisive political rhetoric has emerged, including calls for the city's first Muslim Mayor to abstain from the commemorative event. Rudy Giuliani, who served as New York's mayor on the day of the attacks, has been among those suggesting the mayor should not attend.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has stated his intention to participate in the memorial, emphasizing his focus on honoring the families of those who lost loved ones. Zeshan Hamdani, whose older brother Salman, a Muslim American New York Police Department cadet, died in the North Tower on 9/11, has spoken out against the controversy. He expressed his views on the anniversary in an interview, describing a sentiment that "Islam is being hijacked."