Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, Zohran Mamdani, condemned Islamophobia and the hateful abuse he has received in recent days, slamming a rival candidate for laughing at the suggestion he would cheer on a 9/11-style attack.
Speaking to press outside the Islamic Cultural Center of the Bronx on Friday, Mamdani, 33, defended his faith and blasted his opponents for bringing “hatred to the forefront.”
“To be Muslim in New York is to expect indignity, but indignity does not make us distinct. There are many New Yorkers who face it. It is the tolerance of that indignity that does,” Mamdani said.
His speech comes just a day after his top opponent, former New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, laughed after radio host Sid Rosenberg said that Mamdani “would be cheering” if another September 11 attack occurred.
Cuomo, who is a member of the Democratic Party but lost the Democratic primary election to Mamdani in June, responded in agreement with Rosenberg: “That’s another problem.”
Mamadani, who has faced off against a barrage of hate and Islamophobia since his campaign first began, used his speech to detail some of the latest examples of attacks he’s faced.
“Yesterday, Cuomo laughed and agreed when a radio hosted said I would cheer another 9/11. Yesterday, Erik Adams said that we can’t let our city become like Europe, he compared me to violent extremists and he lied again and again when he said our movement seeks to burn churches and destroy communities.
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
“Every day super pack ads imply that I am a terrorist or mock the way I eat. Push polls ask New Yorkers whether they support invented proposals to make halal food mandatory and political cartoons represent my candidacy as an aeroplane hurtling towards the World Trade Centre.”
Basim Elkarra, the executive director of Muslim advocacy group CAIR Action, described Cuomo’s appearance on the radio programme as “despicable, dangerous, and disqualifying.”
“By agreeing with a racist radio host who suggested a Muslim elected official would ‘cheer’ another 9/11, Cuomo has crossed a moral line,” Elkarra said.
Cuomo in recent days has trained a spotlight on Mamdani’s faith and immigrant upbringing, trying to undercut Mamdani with people concerned about his criticisms of Israel and whether he would fight antisemitism.
But Mamdani has also faced sectarian attacks from other directions including the White House.
After Mamdani won the New York Democrats Primary on June 25, US President Donald Trump unleashed a blistering attack against the socialist candidate on Truth Social, calling him a “100% Communist Lunatic.”
“It’s finally happened, the Democrats have crossed the line. A 100% Communist Lunatic.”
The US president went on to add that Mamdani “looks TERRIBLE, his voice is grating, he’s not very smart, he’s got AOC+3, Dummies ALL, backing him, and even our Great Palestinian Senator, Cryin’ Chuck Schumer, is grovelling over him.”
Who is Zohran Mamdani?
Mamdani, was born in Uganda and moved to New York at the age of 7. He is a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science and holds a degree in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College. He became a US citizen in 2018 and was elected to the State Assembly in 2020.
He has openly discussed his Muslim faith on many occasions but specifically practices Shia Islam. He has emphasised how his faith shapes his political views, particularly his commitment to equality and justice.
During the New York City Democratic mayoral primary, he became emotional while discussing the significance of being a Muslim candidate, highlighting the personal and historical weight of his campaign.
His faith has also been a focal point in his outreach to diverse Muslim communities, drawing interest across the spectrum due to his focus on “kitchen table issues” like affordability and housing.
Mamdani has also been vocal about his support for Palestinian rights, often framing his stance within his broader commitment to justice and equality, influenced by his Muslim faith.
Mamdani has expressed reluctance to recognise Israel’s right to exist as a “Jewish” state, and also advocated for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. Mamdani has also famously promised that he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he comes to the city while he is mayor.
However, Mamdani has expressed views which are contrary to the teachings of Islam. A self described democratic socialist, Mamdani rejects the claims he is a communist but has adopted a very left-wing identity.
Mamdani promotes and defends same gender relationships and has worked closely with the LGBTQ+ movement, attending their events and pledging to defend their lifestyle.
Set for triumph
President Trump has reportedly told allies in private that he believes Mamdani is unbeatable in the New York City mayor’s race.
The Wall Street Journal cited a senior White House official as saying that the president and his team think the Muslim socialist is on course to beat independent Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in November 4’s election, given his commanding lead in the latest polling.
The president is reportedly not sold on the idea of Sliwa dropping out, believing it would not help Cuomo advance his case.
Addressing the race with reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump indicated reluctant support for Cuomo and said, “It’s really a question of would I rather have a Democrat or a communist? And I would rather have a Democrat than a communist.”
He also said that, if the Republican nominee dropped out, “maybe Cuomo would have a little bit of a chance, but not much.”
Trump himself is, of course, a native New Yorker, and the Trump Organization retains its headquarters in Manhattan. This means Mamdani’s ascent poses a direct threat to his interests, as the candidate has pledged to raise taxes on the wealthy to bankroll his affordability agenda.
Last month, the president threatened to cut federal funding to his hometown if Mamdani won and has since scrapped $18 billion in New York City infrastructure funding, blaming the ongoing U.S. government shutdown.
