Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor was historic – Mamdani is on the cusp of becoming the first Muslim mayor in the city's history. His faith is also proving to be a source of controversy.
A democratic socialist who identifies as a “proud Muslim,” Mamdani says that his faith is a foundational part of his personal and political identity, even as his progressive values sometimes put him at odds with conservative Muslim hardliners.
Despite riding a wave of popularity into a stunning upset of Andrew Cuomo, Mamdani's religious beliefs have helped make him a lightning rod of controversy. Detractors say his faith puts him at odds with the city’s values. Some argue electing a Muslim is itself anti-American.
Faith Under Attack
At one point on the campaign trail, Mamdani delivered an emotional account of the abuse he’s received simply for being open about his Muslim faith.
"I get messages that say the only good Muslim is a dead Muslim," he explained, his voice audibly shaking as he held back tears. "I get threats on my life, on the people that I love."
The anti-Islamic insults haven’t let up, and they’re coming from both sides of the aisle.
Mamdani has faced a barrage of xenophobic criticisms from prominent politicians and pundits, calling him everything from a “jihadist terrorist” to the second coming of 9/11. Some have even suggested he be deported.
A Familiar Backlash
“The fear-mongering is insane,” stated pro-Muslim activist and Mamdani supporter Asad Dandia. “I think the community and our leadership know that we’re on the radar now.” Some Muslims say the current climate feels eerily like the aftermath of 9/11, with a resurgence of paranoia, scapegoating, and public suspicion.
As Dandia puts it, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.”
Corey Saylor, advocacy director at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), echoed the concern. “Many of the trends we are seeing mirror common Islamophobic content – Muslims as other and as a threat,” explained Saylor.
CAIR described the volume of Islamophobic attacks against Mamdani as “noteworthy,” warning that it could snowball into a larger cultural flashpoint, much like the controversy over an Islamic center near Ground Zero.
Community Resilience
Despite the vitriol, Mamdani and the broader Muslim community are standing firm.
“We feel more confident in our community’s voice and our institutional power and in the support that we will have from allies,” said Dandia. “Yes, we’re dealing with this Islamophobic backlash, but I don’t want to make it seem like we’re just victims because we are able to now fight back.”
Mamdani agrees, but is hopeful for more than just survival. “I’ve spoken to many Muslims across this city who have shared that their fear of having to be essentially branded a terrorist just by living in public life is one that keeps them preferring life in the shadows, life outside of that specter,” he explained.
“And this is not the way that we can have our city be. It’s not the way that we can have our country be.”
What is your reaction?
16 comments
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Najah P Tamargo
Najah Tamargo-USA
Congratulations Mayor Mamdani! Stand strong!!!
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Sandra A Rasmussen
I always thought that leaders of our country were supposed to be born in the USA not born anywhere else- It’s true we’re a melting pot of different races of people from different worlds and there’s nothing matter with that, but it would make more sense that the ones that were born and raised here, lead our nation, and that one with terrorist roots That would be like me moving to Russia and running for president there, even though I have no background of socialism Our forefathers are most likely rolling around in their graves right now
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Asa William Sprague, II
Just for the sake of providing general information: According to the U.S. Constitution, only candidates for POTUS and VPOTUS carry the requirement "to have been born in the USA."
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ServantOfJudgement
Certain positions such as president and vice president. States dictate their own laws concerning this. Mr Swartzennager or however you spell his name is a great example. From another country he realized the American dream when he became governor of California. Unfortunately he later told us home grown Americans, the ones who liberated his Nazi homeland we can funk our freedom when it comes to pumping a poisonous jab into our bodies.
To your point, it raises a serious security alarm, especially in today's political climate where we let 20 million unknowns waltz right on in to the kitchen.
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James Riggle-Johnson
You do not need to be born here to hold office, although you must be a US citizen. You must be born in the US to become the President of the United States.
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Colleen McAllister
That is only the president. Many of our elected leaders were born here.
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
It amazes me the fear that the hard right has about people who are not like them! They hate those with differing “religious” beliefs, They sure hate non-white human beings, the LGBTQIA2S+ community. Drag queens and transgender human beings. The list goes on! Pretty sure they hate Lauren Boebert and MTG. Sure, they’re white, cis het christian nationalists, but they’re female and not makin’ babies like they should be.
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Chris
Of course he is. Bigots gonna be bigots no matter what.
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Peter Senderowitz
Mamdani , in public discourse , should emphasize his broader program and not get stuck in identity politics : rents , curtailing supermarket big businesses , Medicare-for-All . This is what all working people need. Hope he wins , hope he stays focused.
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Dest
Medicare for all is not good. We pay 80% of bill. It does cover some things but not preventative. Even some cancer testing. They won't cover it unless your stage 4 (well how do you know you are). Hence why ppl buy a supplemental insurance. Do you pay $500/month for health care? Oh don't forget you better have a part D or you are delinquent. That's another $500/yr. Medicaid is for low income families. Long term medicaid for aged, blind and disabled is only if you have nothing. You cannot have a life insurance policy, stocks, bonds, pension 🤷♀️ income over 1,000 or asset over 4k that includes your vehicle.
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Patricia Ann Gross
Then you need a good Medicare supplement program. I pay copays, and yes, 80% of my Part B, but my supplement kicks in and pays 100% after I have a certain amount of out-of-pocket, which I will probably meet this month with a husband on dialysis.
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Bette Elsden
His focus on Medicare-for-all is misplaced, as Medicare is a federal program administered by each state. The mayor of one city, even the gargantuan NYC (my hometown), has nothing to do with it. Mr. Mamdani's statements about it are campaign fluff that will attract progressive voters. That may get him elected, but when he can't do anything to pass it, it will only increase his constituents' frustration.
Likewise, his advocacy for free bus rides ignores the mayor's need to work with the city council and, likely, the courts, as well as other stakeholders -- especially the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) which actually runs the buses and is not a part of the city government; not to mention the governor's office in Albany, the unions, and business interests (which will have a lot to say about the proposal that they pay higher taxes in order to finance this policy). Businesses and others have already threatened to abandon or avoid the city altogether. And while New Yorkers can cheer about the so-called fat cats leaving, a city needs a business base to survive and thrive. Mr. Mamdani may be a Democratic Socialist, but most of the rest of the country is not. Where will the money come from?
I abhor the personal attacks on Mr. Mamdani, and I don't think they'll sway enough New York voters to make a difference in the election's outcome. NYC is a very diverse town, and most people who live there value that diversity. That said, winning the election is one battle; running that huge city successfully is quite another.
A mayor can be defeated as a mayor, and I think Mr. Mamdani's lack of executive experience and inability, so far, to stick to issues that lie within the mayor's purview are likely to sink him, if he doesn't adapt and learn very, very quickly. I don't happen to think that the mayor's office of a major US city is an appropriate place for someone who needs lessons in governance. I'm hoping that if he does win, he appoints Mr. Lander, the city comptroller, to an advisory position. Mr. Mamdani will need him.
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James Riggle-Johnson
The hate being aimed at Zohran Mamdani is disgusting—especially from elected officials who know exactly what they’re doing. He’s being called a terrorist not for anything he’s done, but simply because he’s Muslim. That kind of rhetoric isn’t just reckless—it’s dangerous.
We’ve seen the same pattern used against the LGBTQ community: smear someone as evil, claim they’re a threat to children, then pretend you’re not responsible when violence follows. Hate speech online leads to real-world attacks. We’re seeing it more and more.
This isn’t free speech or political disagreement. It’s incitement. And if we don’t start calling it out for what it is, people will continue to get hurt just for existing.
They didn’t want Kennedy to be president because he was Catholic, and they thought he’d be beholden to the Pope. It was a bonkers notion then, and it’s bonkers now.
I almost gave that a thumbs up, until I read it again and realised it said 'notion', not 'nation'!
Well whoever didn't want Kennedy to be president took care of it didn't they?