Shahana Hanif
Role at the time: New York City Council member giving her own interview response
Defended or excused
Statement summary
Hanif opposed efforts to exclude Mamdani from the memorial, arguing that he was being treated differently because of his Muslim identity and invoking Muslim New Yorkers' losses and experiences after September 11.
“being treated differently simply because he is Muslim”
Open the original interview (opens in a new tab)CNN interviews Shahana Hanif and Cheri Sparacio about Mamdani's memorial attendanceHanif and Sparacio quotations in Partisan rancor threatens solemn unity of 9/11 ceremony
Why we used this label
She directly challenges the exclusion campaign and defends Mamdani's participation; her account of the opponents' motivation is attributed rather than independently established.