There were many things Zohran Mamdani said and did during his 2025 campaign for New York City mayor that confirmed to us who he really is and what he really stands for. But one of the most appalling things was his embrace of the endorsement of Imam Siraj Wahhaj, who is an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
Someone else who was a defense witness for “Blind Sheikh” Omar Abdel-Rahman was Democrat Adam Hamawy. Under cross-examination, here’s what Hamawy, now a plastic surgeon, had to say about Abdel-Rahman at his 1995 trial:
Under questioning from prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald (who is now representing James Comey), Hamawy testified that Abdel-Rahman “always talked about” jihad.Fitzgerald: “Did you hear defendant Abdel-Rahman prior to the arrest talk with about how America is the enemy of Islam?”Hamawy: “Yes.”Fitzgerald: “And you heard prior to the arrest about how Israel is the enemy of Islam, correct?”Hamawy: “Yes.”Fitzgerald: “Did you hear about how Muslims had to do jihad against the enemies of Islam before the arrests in June 1993?”Hamawy: “Of course. That’s what he always talked about. He talked about jihad, you know.”In the early 1990s, Hamawy was a loyal follower of the sheikh, even after Abdel-Rahman emerged as a prime suspect in the bombing. “If you need anything, you can just give me a call,” Hamawy told Abdel-Rahman in 1993, just months after the World Trace Center bombing, which left six dead, trial transcripts show.
In 1996, Abdel-Rahman “was convicted of preparing what prosecutors called a ‘war of urban terrorism’ in New York City:”
Although there was insufficient evidence to link Abdel Rahman directly to the World Trade Center bombing, in January 1996 he was convicted of preparing what prosecutors called a “war of urban terrorism” in New York City. Under a rarely used Civil War-era seditious conspiracy law, prosecutors proved that the cleric had conspired to “overthrow or put down or destroy by force the Government of the United States.” Abdel Rahman was found guilty of plotting to blow up the George Washington Bridge, the Lincoln and Holland tunnels, the United Nations building, and other Manhattan landmarks. He was also linked to the Kahane murder and convicted of trying to orchestrate the assassination of Egyptian Pres. Ḥosnī Mubārak. Abdel Rahman was sentenced to life in prison.
Fast forward to 2026, when Hamawy is considered the Democratic frontrunner among the crowded field of 13 Democrats and one Republican running for New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District, which is currently represented by retiring Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman.
In a recent interview with NJ Insider, Hamawy declined to disavow himself from his former association and defense of the now-deceased Abdel-Rahman:
Hamawy defends Rahman as “a leader of the community” and “an old man that is disabled” who only spoke about “innocuous things” and that “the entire community” was behind him.
He also refused to condemn jihad before clarifying that he supposedly condemned all types of violence and extremism:
It will shock exactly no one to learn that, like Mamdani, Hamawy has broken bread with America-hater Hasan Piker, who once said he believes America “deserved 9/11.” Hamawy has also received the endorsement of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT):
Like other Democrat candidates, Sanders has endorsed Hamawy, who is anti-Israel and pro-Hamas:
“Absolutely. 100%. The Iron Dome is insulating Israel from having to deal with consequences. It’s like giving a bully body armor to go bully people more. We need to have them feel the effects of war, and then they’ll stop and actually have a conversation.”
The New Jersey congressional primary is on June 2nd.
– Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym “Sister Toldjah” and can be reached via X. –
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