Aber Kawas, the Democratic nominee for New York State Senate District 12, faces criticism after a resurfaced video suggests she implied America deserved the September 11 attacks.
Aber Kawas, the Democratic nominee for New York State Senate District 12 in New York City, is facing backlash following the resurfacing of a controversial video. In the clip, Kawas appears to suggest that America deserved the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Her comments have drawn attention, particularly given her backing by socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Kawas, who identifies as a Muslim and is the daughter of undocumented immigrants, has positioned herself as a progressive candidate. In a 2017 episode of the Asian American Writers’ Association podcast titled “Islamophobia beyond 9/11 with Aber Kawas,” she discussed systemic issues such as capitalism, racism, and Islamophobia. During the conversation, she remarked, “The system of capitalism and racism and white supremacy… and Islamophobia, have all been used to colonize lands, to take resources from other people, and so this is a long trajectory, and we’re just seeing the manifestations of that continuation with 9/11.”
In the same interview, Kawas downplayed the significance of the attacks, stating, “The idea we have to apologize for a terror attack that a couple of people did and then there is no apology or reparations for genocides and for slavery… is something I find reprehensible.”
Following the resurfacing of the video, Kawas addressed the controversy in a November 2025 interview. She characterized the criticism as out-of-context attacks from the political right, labeling them as “cherry-picked comments.” Kawas stated, “I’ve always been outspoken about the wrongful scapegoating of Muslim Americans, both before and after 9/11, and in this interview, I was speaking about the harmful notion that Muslims should have to apologize for an act of violence they have nothing to do with.”
She further asserted that her recent electoral victory demonstrates that the constituents of Queens reject what she termed “desperate, Islamophobic smear tactics” and desire leaders who are unafraid to confront bigotry and racism.
Kawas, who describes herself as a Palestinian-American and a Muslim community activist, has made the situation in Gaza a focal point of her campaign. In her victory speech, she expressed her vision for a world where “Gaza is free to live,” emphasizing her commitment to social justice.
Additionally, Kawas has been linked to the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), an organization that has faced scrutiny and has been designated as a terrorist organization in certain U.S. states and other countries.
Kawas’s personal background has also played a significant role in her campaign narrative. Her father, Abdelkareem Kawas, a Jordanian national, entered the United States on a tourist visa in 1989 and remained in the country illegally. He was later deported following a conviction for real estate fraud and a prison sentence. Kawas has framed her father’s deportation as an example of the harsh treatment faced by immigrant families.
New York State Senate District 12, which encompasses western Queens, including Astoria, is known for its strong Democratic leanings. Kawas emerged victorious against Democratic Assemblyman Steven Raga, securing her position as the party’s nominee. With incumbent State Senator Michael Gianaris stepping down, Kawas is expected to maintain her lead in the upcoming November election, potentially paving her way to Albany in January.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, Kawas’s candidacy and the controversies surrounding her comments will likely remain a focal point in discussions about representation and the challenges faced by Muslim Americans in the political arena, according to Fox News.