NEW YORK (Diya TV) — Zohran Mamdani, a New York City mayoral candidate and member of the state assembly, is facing scrutiny over his mother’s longstanding ties to Qatar, a nation criticized for its support of Hamas.

Mira Nair, an acclaimed filmmaker and Mamdani’s mother, has received significant backing from Qatar since 2009. Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, sister of Qatar’s ruling emir, has been instrumental in this support. Al-Mayassa chairs the Doha Film Institute (DFI), which has financed several of Nair’s projects, including the $15 million budget for her 2012 film The Reluctant Fundamentalist. The DFI also organized cultural collaborations with Nair’s Maisha Film Labs, which trains filmmakers from East Africa, South Asia, and the Arab world.

Nair’s works have been prominently featured in Qatari cultural events. Her film Amelia opened the first Doha Tribeca Film Festival in 2009, and her short film Nafas was commissioned by the Qatar National Museum in 2019. Additionally, Qatar Airways and Qatar Creates produced her stage adaptation of Monsoon Wedding as part of the 2022 World Cup celebrations.

Mamdani, 33, gained national attention earlier this year by defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo to win the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York City. His platform includes progressive policies such as higher taxes on corporations, free childcare, fare-free buses, and expanded healthcare for transgender communities.

However, his campaign has been overshadowed by allegations linking his mother’s work to Qatari interests. Critics argue that Qatar is using cultural influence to foster political alliances, potentially compromising democratic values. These concerns have been amplified by Sheikha Al-Mayassa’s recent public support for Mamdani’s mayoral bid, including sharing posts on social media highlighting his favorable polling.

Mamdani has denied any wrongdoing, stating that he has never visited Qatar nor received financial support from the country. His campaign spokeswoman, Dora Pekec, dismissed the allegations as an attempt to smear him through his mother’s career, emphasizing that voters care about actual issues, not manufactured distractions.

The situation has drawn attention from various political commentators. Some have expressed concern over the potential influence of foreign entities on U.S. politics. One commentator noted that the overlap between foreign royal backing and a U.S. political campaign is unusual and warrants scrutiny.