Zohran Mamdani intern exposed for advocating activist ‘jihad’

A former Zohran Mamdani intern proudly declared activism is “all jihad” and encouraged protesters to get suspended or arrested in defiance of the West’s “settler colonialism.”

“The true believer knows that none of this is in vain, that this is all Jihad,” said Hadeeqa Malik in the recently resurfaced video, using the controversial Muslim term for holy war. 

“So, the conversation of doxing, the conversation of getting arrested and suspended, I think it’s time for Muslims to start to say alright, alright so what?”

According to Malik’s LinkedIn, she served as a Communications, Outreach, Policy, and Constituent Services Intern at the State Assembly Office of Zohran Mamdani for the summer of 2024. A photo shows the pair smiling for a selfie.

Malik, who is a student at City College of New York (CCNY), made her statement on a CUNY4Palestine webinar entitled “Islamic Political Activism,” which she shared to her LinkedIn account ten months ago.

It’s frightening proof that a radical faction of pro-Palestine youth activists appear to be motivated less by humanitarian concern for civilians in Gaza than by extremist fervor.

In the video, Malik refers to “genocide and colonization and settler colonialism,” and calls out other Muslims who haven’t taken an activist stand.

“If you’re not seeing this as your issue to deal with, then something is wrong, there is an illness, there is a disease, something messing up the system inside that’s telling you this isn’t your business,” she said.

In response to concerns about getting doxed, suspended, and arrested, she asked, “How gangster are you?… And I know everybody has their own families and has an education and everything, it’s just a question.”

She continued, “If you get suspended, if you get doxed, because it’s bound to happen… when you’re doing something for the sake of Allah here in the West it will never, ever be in vain, and the true believer does not fear that.”

While the original YouTube video of the webinar has been made private, it was reposted in its entirety by another user.

While only a college student, Malik has already managed to embed herself in influential hubs of activism — from Columbia Palestine protests and Students for Justice in Palestine, to the Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR) and Zohran Mamdani’s circle.

Mailk, who was present at pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University, lists herself as the president of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at the City College of New York from June 2024 to June 2025, where she is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in international relations with a minor in human rights.

Malik also purports to be an Outreach Coordinator for CAIR and a Racial Justice Fellow at the Colin Powell School for Civil and Global Leadership.

Neither Mamdani’s nor CAIR’s spokespeople responded to The Post for comment about Malik’s purported affiliation. Malik also did not respond to a request.

This isn’t even the first scandal she’s found herself embroiled in.

Another recently resurfaced video shows Malik berating a Muslim NYPD officer at a pro-Palestine rally. The video, originally posted in February, depicts her leading a chant as fellow protesters follow along.

“Let’s read the badges of the pigs,” she says, as she faces down a police line and reads cops’ names aloud.

She singled out a visibly uncomfortable officer, seeming to imply he was bringing shame to his traditionally Muslim name: “To the pigs who can call themselves by the name of Islam — put some respect on their names!”

The cop, standing stoically but clearly disturbed, was ultimately relieved by a fellow officer and was mocked as he stepped back.

Mailk displays an incredibly disturbing pattern of behavior — especially for someone so entrenched in influential activist spheres. Of course, Mamdani is not responsible for the actions of all his interns. And surely she does not speak for every pro-Palestine protester, let alone for the Muslim community.

But Malik’s rhetoric reveals that not all pro-Palestine activists are simply taking to the streets out of concern for Gaza. Some are acting on a deeper, more fanatic fire burning inside of them.

What she’s demonstrated is a hostility towards fellow Muslims, like the NYPD officer, who stand with law and order, coupled with a passion for advocating animosity, agitation, and literal “jihad” in her community.

It’s frightening to hear such extremism from the mouth of a young college student in America — and something that genuine pro-Palestine activists urgently ought to distance themselves from, for the sake of their cause.