Zohran Mamdani’s Legal Advisor Pick Sparks Backlash Over Ramzi Kassem’s Past Cases

New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has triggered sharp political backlash after appointing civil rights lawyer Ramzi Kassem as the city’s next Chief Counsel, one of the most influential legal positions in City Hall.

Mamdani defended the appointment, describing Kassem as a lawyer committed to protecting individuals “too often abandoned by the legal system,” and praised his work representing immigrants and students through a legal clinic he co-founded. The mayor-elect announced the decision on social media, calling it part of a “new era” for the city’s administration.

Criticism erupted primarily from conservative circles, citing Kassem’s past legal defence of Ahmed al-Darbi, a convicted associate of al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, who was found guilty in connection with the 2002 bombing of a French oil tanker off Yemen’s coast. Kassem’s supporters argue that legal representation does not equate to ideological endorsement and emphasise his career in civil liberties law.

Kassem, a Syrian-born academic and law professor at City University of New York, previously served as an immigration adviser under the Biden administration. His academic writings and student activism from earlier years have resurfaced, further fuelling debate.

Past commentary critical of Israeli policies, including writings questioning Israel’s presence in parts of the West Bank, and objections he raised as a student over campus references he viewed as offensive, have drawn renewed scrutiny. Allegations that a Muslim student group he co-founded hosted controversial speakers have been disputed by his supporters.

Kassem has also recently represented Columbia University graduate student and pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil in a high-profile legal challenge against immigration detention, placing him at the centre of a broader national debate on campus activism, antisemitism, free speech and academic freedom.

Republican leaders, including New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, have previously called for disciplinary action against Kassem, accusing him of enabling extremist narratives. Those claims were strongly rejected by academic bodies, including the American Association of University Professors, which warned against undermining legal advocacy and faculty rights.

The appointment has intensified ideological divisions as Mamdani prepares to assume office, with supporters framing the move as a commitment to civil liberties, while critics argue it raises concerns about judgment and public trust in city leadership.