New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has faced criticism after handing a ceremonial pen from a 9/11 executive order signing to his chief counsel, Ramzi Kassem, who previously represented a convicted al Qaeda associate. The gesture, made ahead of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, prompted accusations on social media that it was disrespectful to victims and first responders, with critics arguing it distracted from a solemn commemorative event.

Mamdani signed executive orders on Friday designating 11 September as a citywide day of remembrance and service and bolstering counter-terrorism efforts, before passing the pen via NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch to Kassem. Kassem had previously represented Ahmed al-Darbi, a Guantánamo Bay detainee who pleaded guilty to war-crime charges linked to al Qaeda plots and whose sister was married to Khalid al-Mihdhar, one of the hijackers who flew American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon, killing 184 people. City Hall said Kassem was involved because he and his team had drafted the orders as part of his role as chief counsel; he has also founded a legal clinic representing Muslims and previously represented pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil. Mamdani's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.