As New York City’s mayoral race intensifies, a disturbing undercurrent of Islamophobia has surfaced, directly targeting candidate Zohran Mamdani. The 34-year-old democratic socialist, campaigning on a platform of affordability and inclusion, finds himself battling not just political opponents, but deeply prejudiced accusations.
Mamdani, a practicing Shia Muslim, has become the focus of false claims alleging he intends to implement Sharia law in New York City. These allegations, amplified across social media, represent a dangerous escalation of rhetoric in a heated election.
Republican Representative Andy Ogles publicly called for Mamdani to be sent back to Uganda – the country of his birth – claiming he came to America with the intent of establishing an Islamic theocracy. This statement ignores the fact that Mamdani moved to the United States as a child and became a naturalized citizen in 2018, fully eligible to hold public office.
The misinformation doesn’t stop there. Fabricated posts circulated online depict Mamdani as seeking to transform New York into a “Muslim paradise” ruled by “jihadists.” These claims are demonstrably false, a distortion of his campaign focused on faith and community upliftment.
The attacks have extended beyond online platforms. Fellow candidate Andrew Cuomo, during a radio interview, shockingly suggested Mamdani would “cheer” another 9/11, a sentiment echoed by the radio host and met with laughter by Cuomo himself.
Even former President Trump weighed in, threatening to strip Mamdani of his citizenship following his primary victory, simply for advocating against ICE’s aggressive deportation tactics. Mamdani himself described the threats as an attempt to “arrest” him, “put me in a detention camp and deport” him for refusing to allow intimidation within the city.
Mamdani responded with a powerful and deeply personal statement, refusing to engage further with his attackers. Instead, he spoke directly to the Muslim community of New York City, acknowledging the fear and indignity many experience.
He recalled his aunt’s decision to avoid the subway after 9/11, fearing harassment for wearing a hijab. He spoke of the constant suspicion faced by Muslim children growing up in the shadow of the attacks, the casual renaming of their identities, and the intrusive questioning at airports.
Mamdani acknowledged his own relative privilege within that experience, noting he was never pressured to become an informant, nor did he face the vandalism or arson experienced by others in the community. He powerfully stated that while indignity is not unique to Muslims, the *tolerance* of that indignity is what defines the experience.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Other Muslim politicians, like London Mayor Sadiq Khan, have faced similar waves of abuse and baseless accusations. Trump, during a speech at the UN, criticized Khan, falsely claiming London was moving towards Sharia law. Khan responded with characteristic wit, suggesting Trump had a “crush” or had simply granted him “squatters’ rights” inside his head.
