Physician Adam Hamawy, a leading candidate for New Jersey’s 12th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, is facing criticism from fellow Democrats over his alleged connections with Omar Abdel-Rahman.
The blind cleric, who was linked to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and died in federal prison in 2017, has become the focal point of controversy for Hamawy. The candidate admitted he once carpooled with Abdel-Rahman in 1991 and later testified for him under oath as part of a “civic duty” obligation.
“I was called as a witness, and I gave my testimony under oath, and then I walked out,” Hamawy stated. He dismissed the allegations as Islamophobic: “Any Muslim is going to be called a terrorist at some point, and these tropes are outdated and worn.”
Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp, who is also running for the Democratic nomination, labeled Hamawy a “radical extremist” over his ties to Abdel-Rahman. Mapp emphasized that the former terrorist was a convicted seditious conspirator with connections to one of the darkest chapters in U.S. history.
Hamawy has secured endorsements from prominent Democrats including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ro Khanna, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib. An unearthed 1996 interview revealed Hamawy was associated with the “Benevolence International Foundation,” a group later identified by the 9/11 Commission Report as part of a network supporting terrorist operations linked to Osama bin Laden.
Hamawy defended his record, stating: “My patriotism and my record is clear. I think he’s desperate, and desperate people say desperate things.” The race for New Jersey’s 12th District seat will be decided in November when the winner faces Republican Gregg Mele.
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