Zohran Mamdani’s imam pal Siraj Wahhaj has a historical past of vile homophobic feedback — and he’s solely the most recent particular person with related beliefs the younger mayoral candidate has been spending time with.
Wahhaj, a distinguished 75-year-old Brooklyn imam, as soon as referred to as on followers to intimidate the LGBT group into turning into straight and becoming a member of Islam — and invoked violent rhetoric about murdering homosexual folks whereas doing it.
“It is a illness of this society,” Wahhaj stated in a sermon first revealed in 2017, advising followers to “defend towards these homosexuals.”
“Regardless of how a lot the American authorities and the Canadian authorities legislated of their regulation that it’s acceptable, it should by no means be acceptable by the Muslims,” stated Wahhaj, who Mamdani visited in Brooklyn on Friday earlier than posting a photograph of the pair smiling collectively.
“And you understand brothers and sisters, you understand what the punishment is that if a person is discovered with one other man?” Wahhaj added. “The Prophet Mohammad stated the one who does it and the one whom it’s achieved to, kill them each.”
Wahhaj stated folks shouldn’t kill gays and didn’t have the suitable to “go get sticks and begin working exterior in search of homosexuals” — however that scaring them into altering their methods was completely OK in his view.
“You go to them and invite them to Islam and make them really feel uncomfortable, however don’t beat them up,” he stated.
Regardless of these feedback, Mamdani referred to as the distinguished Imam “a pillar of the Mattress-Stuy group for practically half a century” in a put up on X after assembly with him on Friday.
Mamdani hasn’t returned requests for touch upon Wahhaj’s homophobic feedback — regardless of characterizing himself as a supporter of the LGBTQ group for years.
However Wahhaj isn’t the primary outspoken anti-LGBT character Mamdani has been seen gladhanding with.
In July, he was photographed visiting and mugging with Ugandan Deputy Prime Minister and Rebecca Kadaga throughout a July assembly after he clinched a Democratic major election victory.
Kadaga was speaker of the Ugandan Parliament in 2012 when she referred to draconian anti-gay laws she was pursuing as a “Christmas present” for her folks — and helped push the nation’s Anti-Homosexuality Act over a decade later in 2024.
That invoice, which Kadaga helped “architect,” can ship same-sex {couples} to jail for all times — and initially sought to impose the dying penalty earlier than it was revised.
Mamdani’s camp, nevertheless, stated he had no thought about her reprehensible beliefs after they bumped into one another at an airport and she or he requested for a photograph.
“Zohran’s perception in common human rights extends to all folks, and he has put ahead probably the most complete plan of any candidate to guard LGBTQ+ New Yorkers,” a spokesperson for Mamdani stated on the time.
“As Mayor, he’ll proceed his file of motion and values to make this a metropolis the place trans New Yorkers are cherished, our queer neighbors are celebrated, and every New Yorker will be the fullest model of themselves,” they added.
Mamdani’s mayoral opponent, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, stated such assurances weren’t sufficient after photo-ops with each Kadaga and now Wahhaj.
“When folks let you know who they’re, it’s best to consider them — and Zohran, wipe that smile off your face,” Cuomo, who’s working as an unbiased, advised The Submit on Saturday.
Wahhaj didn’t reply to a request for remark.
