Fact Check: Did the 9/11 committee issue a no-trespass order against Zohran Mamdani’s wife?

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Amid the debates and controversies surrounding New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani attending the 9/11 anniversary this year, a rumor began circulating on social media platforms claiming that the 9/11 committee has issued a no-trespass order for Mamdani's wife, Rama Duwaji.

The claim has sparked speculation, prompting a fact-check.

Claim: 9/11 committee issued no-trespass order for Rama Duwaji

According to a Facebook post accompanied by a link to an article, the September 11th Memorial Committee had issued a no-trespass order for Mayor Mamdani’s wife and New York City First Lady, Rama Duwaji, for this year’s ceremony. 

The alleged petition stated, “We understand that she was planning to stage a ‘Free Palestine’ disturbance in the crowd that would overshadow the somber ceremony on the 26th anniversary of the attacks. We ask that the court issue an order keeping her and her affiliates at least 1000 feet from the event.” 

The article states that the petition was filed in the Manhattan Federal Court by attorneys representing the “September 11th Memorial Committee for Uninterrupted Mourning.” 

The claim drew mixed reactions, with many in the comments mocking Duwaji and appearing to believe the claim to be true, while others questioned the claim’s authenticity.

Fact Check: The claim originated as satire

Although the families of 9/11 victims did sign a petition urging Mamdani to stay away from this year’s ceremony, there is no evidence of a no-trespass order against his wife.

There are no publicly available petitions, statements, announcements, or press releases from any organisations barring Duwaji from attending this year’s ceremony.

A search on Google for the claim yielded no credible news media reports that support the claim, and there are also no registered organisations called ‘September 11th Memorial Committee’ or ‘September 11th Memorial Committee for Uninterrupted Mourning.’

Moreover, the claim was posted by an account called ‘America’s Last Line Of Defense’ which describes itself in the bio as ‘Nothing on this page is real.’

Zohran Mamdani faces pressure over attending 9/11 ceremony

The claim surfaced as Mamdani is facing growing pressure from the families of 9/11 victims who are seeking to bar him from the city's 25th anniversary commemoration ceremonies this September. 

When a reporter asked Mamdani about the boycott, he replied, “I will proudly honor the families, the survivors, the first responders, forever impacted by that horrific attack by standing alongside them at this year's 9/11 commemoration, reaffirming that we will never forget the solemn day felt by all of us who call this city home and, frankly, by all of us who call this country home."