NYC Council Member Shahana Hanif Tells 2 Muslim Critics to Go to 'Jahannam'

2 articles · Updated · POLITICO · May 27

Shahana Hanif drew backlash after posting on X that two Muslim women critical of Mayor Zohran Mamdani should be condemned to “Jahannam,” responding to their plans to attend a protest outside Gracie Mansion.
Hanif defended the remark as the Arabic equivalent of “go to hell,” saying critics were exaggerating it because Arabic was used and arguing the protest included MAGA-style hate rhetoric.
The two women, Anila Ali and Zeba Zebunnesa of the American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council, joined a demonstration urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to remove Mamdani over claims he has not done enough to combat antisemitism.
A few hundred people attended the protest, where Israeli flags were displayed and some participants shouted that Mamdani—an American citizen born in Uganda—should be deported.
Rabbi and commentator Elchanan Poupko called Hanif’s post a “red line,” intensifying scrutiny of how New York officials are handling already fraught Muslim-Jewish political tensions.

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