Changes

===Radical, bigoted staff===

===Radical, bigoted staff===

Several appointments in New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration, which began on January 1, 2026, have drawn widespread criticism over alleged ties to [[racism]], [[antisemitism]], [[Islamism]], radical anti-Israel activism, and the legal defense of convicted terrorists.

Several appointments in Mamdani's administration, which began on January 1, 2026, have drawn widespread criticism over alleged ties to [[racism]], [[antisemitism]], [[Islamism]], radical anti-Israel activism, and the legal defense of convicted terrorists.

One of the most controversial appointments was [[Arab]] Ramzi Kassem, a [[CUNY]] School of Law professor named as the city’s Chief Counsel. Kassem previously served as lead defense attorney for Ahmed Ghailani al-Darbi, an [[al-Qaeda]] operative who pleaded guilty to involvement in the 2002 bombing of a French oil tanker. Kassem has also represented numerous Guantanamo Bay detainees and other terrorism-related defendants. Critics argue that appointing an attorney with a history of defending Islamist militants to oversee New York City’s legal affairs raises serious concerns about public safety and judgment.<ref>{{cite news |title=NYC Mayor Mamdani appoints lawyer who represented al-Qaeda member as chief counsel |url=https://nypost.com/2025/12/20/nyc-mayor-mamdani-appoints-lawyer-who-represented-al-qaeda-member-as-chief-counsel/ |publisher=New York Post |date=December 20, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mamdani taps 'terror lawyer' Ramzi Kassem for top legal post |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mamdani-taps-terror-lawyer-top-legal-post |publisher=Fox News |date=December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Outrage over Mamdani's appointment of al-Qaeda-linked attorney |url=https://www.dailywire.com/news/outrage-mamdani-al-qaeda-attorney |publisher=The Daily Wire |date=December 2025}}</ref>

One of the most controversial appointments was [[Arab]] Ramzi Kassem, a [[CUNY]] School of Law professor named as the city’s Chief Counsel. Kassem previously served as lead defense attorney for Ahmed Ghailani al-Darbi, an [[al-Qaeda]] operative who pleaded guilty to involvement in the 2002 bombing of a French oil tanker. Kassem has also represented numerous Guantanamo Bay detainees and other terrorism-related defendants. Critics argue that appointing an attorney with a history of defending Islamist militants to oversee New York City’s legal affairs raises serious concerns about public safety and judgment.<ref>{{cite news |title=NYC Mayor Mamdani appoints lawyer who represented al-Qaeda member as chief counsel |url=https://nypost.com/2025/12/20/nyc-mayor-mamdani-appoints-lawyer-who-represented-al-qaeda-member-as-chief-counsel/ |publisher=New York Post |date=December 20, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mamdani taps 'terror lawyer' Ramzi Kassem for top legal post |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mamdani-taps-terror-lawyer-top-legal-post |publisher=Fox News |date=December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Outrage over Mamdani's appointment of al-Qaeda-linked attorney |url=https://www.dailywire.com/news/outrage-mamdani-al-qaeda-attorney |publisher=The Daily Wire |date=December 2025}}</ref>