Mamdani's pen gesture at the 11 Eylül ceremony sparked debate.
After signing the decisions for 11 Eylül, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's handing of the symbolic pen to Chief Legal Advisor Ramzi Kassem drew criticism.
In the United States, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed two ordinances to declare a day of remembrance in the city before the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks and to strengthen preparedness for disasters. After the ceremony, he gave the symbolic pen he used to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who passed it to Attorney General Ramzi Kassem.
Kassem's Past Came to Light
Following the gesture, Kassem’s representation of Ahmed al‑Darbi, who had been held in Guantanamo in the past, resurfaced. Al‑Darbi had accepted charges linked to the 2002 attack on the French oil tanker MV Limburg in the waters off Yemen. Al‑Darbi’s sister, meanwhile, was married to Khalid al‑Mihdhar, one of the September 11 hijackers who crashed into the Pentagon.
Reactions Increased
The handing of the pen to Kassem was criticized by relatives of some September 11 victims, politicians, and former security personnel. In the criticism, it was argued that the gesture did not align with the meaning of the remembrance ceremony held before the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
Kassem's Other Cases
Kassem also represented Mahmoud Khalil, who had been detained in connection with pro‑Palestinian protests at Columbia University. He also established a clinic within CUNY that provides legal support to Muslims and others who say they are being targeted by the government.
Mamdani's Remembrance Resolutions
The resolutions signed by Mamdani designate September 11 as a Day of Remembrance and Service in New York, while calling for strengthened emergency preparedness and inter‑agency coordination in the city. Mamdani said the resolutions aim to honor those who lost their lives in the attacks, first‑responder teams, and survivors.
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