Critics question whether keffiyeh-wearing Mamdani staffer was sending message of hate
A staffer in Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration, Mohamed Alharbi, wore a keffiyeh in an official city video, sparking criticism from Jewish leaders who associate the garment with anti-Jewish sentiment. Alharbi, who has not previously been seen wearing a keffiyeh in public appearances, was filmed at Gracie Mansion promoting rent regulation efforts. Critics argue the symbol's use in the video was a deliberate and divisive act, though neither Alharbi nor the mayor has commented.
- ▪Mohamed Alharbi, deputy borough director for Queens, wore a keffiyeh in a city-produced video filmed at Gracie Mansion.
- ▪Jewish leaders, including Moshe Spern and Dov Hikind, condemned the keffiyeh's display, linking it to anti-Jewish symbolism and Hamas.
- ▪Alharbi has not been seen wearing a keffiyeh in prior public appearances, including a March podcast where he dressed formally without the garment.
- ▪Jayne Zirkle of The Lawfare Project stated the keffiyeh represents ideological positions opposed to Western civilization.
- ▪Neither Mohamed Alharbi nor Mayor Zohran Mamdani responded to requests for comment on the controversy.
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Metro Critics question whether keffiyeh-wearing Mamdani staffer was sending message of hate By Doree Lewak Published May 2, 2026, 11:31 a.m. ET The Mamdani Administration staffer who prominently wore a keffiyeh in a slick video urging New Yorkers to go to the Rent Guidelines Board, may have sending a message with his symbolic attire, insiders told The Post. Mohamed Alharbi, the deputy borough director for Queens in the mayor’s Office of Mass Engagement, has not been spotted wearing a keffiyeh in public photos, interviews and videos, observers note. Colleagues were also surprised to see him in a keffiyeh, which many Jews equate with the Palestinian terror group Hamas. “I’ve never seen him wear a keffiyeh at work,” a City Hall staffer told The Post.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at US News – Latest Breaking Headlines, Photos & Videos | New York Post.
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