NYC Mayoral Primary Winner's Father Faces Scrutiny

Mahmood Mamdani, a Columbia University professor and father of Zohran Mamdani, is facing criticism for a 2004 book in which he described suicide bombing as a form of modern political violence. The controversy is heightened by his advisory role with the Gaza Tribunal, a London-based group supporting the BDS movement and accusing Israel of genocide, whose members include individuals linked to terrorism. Zohran Mamdani, who recently won the Democratic primary for New York City mayor and is a democratic socialist, has also promoted BDS and declined to condemn the phrase 'globalize the intifada.' These positions have sparked debate and criticism, with some claiming they signal extremism or antisemitism in city leadership. Supporters of Zohran have dismissed calls for his deportation as bigoted. Both Mamdanis and Zohran's campaign have not issued detailed public statements on the controversies.