Islamophobic attacks surge after Mamdani’s historic primary victory

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Axios
Today 15:23
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Despite facing racist attacks from high-profile critics, Zohran Mamdani’s grassroots campaign highlights a growing shift in American politics toward inclusive, multiracial coalitions.

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Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks next to a portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. during the National Action Network's Saturday action rally at the House of Justice in Harlem, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in New York (AP)

Zohran Mamdani’s victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary has triggered a wave of Islamophobic rhetoric from political opponents, including sitting members of Congress, comments that just a decade ago would have ended a political career. Now, they circulate largely unchecked, reflecting the growing normalization of anti-Muslim sentiment in American politics.

Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist and state assemblyman, would become the city’s first Muslim mayor if elected. His win over former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was powered by a multiracial, cross-borough coalition that included progressive Jewish voters in Manhattan, liberals in Park Slope, and working-class communities in Queens.

But the aftermath of his victory has revealed how openly Islamophobic rhetoric has become part of the political mainstream. Representative Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) called for Mamdani’s citizenship to be revoked and for his deportation, despite the legal improbability of such a move. Mamdani was born in Uganda, immigrated to the US at age seven, and became a citizen in 2018. Denaturalization is an exceedingly rare legal action, typically reserved for cases of fraud.

“This is just further evidence of how the government is using Kilmar’s case to further their propaganda and prove their political point,” said Lisa Sherman Luna, executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, in an interview for The Washington Post.

Online hate and political hostility

Since the primary, Mamdani has been subject to violent threats and coordinated online hate campaigns. Ogles referred to him on X as “Zohran 'little muhammad' Mamdani,” calling him a “socialist, communist” who would “destroy the great City of New York.” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) posted an AI-generated image of the Statue of Liberty wearing a burqa, while Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) accused Mamdani’s candidacy of dishonoring the memory of 9/11.

In an interview with MSNBC, Mamdani responded by affirming his identity: “This is an opportunity for me to introduce the fact that being Muslim is like being a member of any other faith.”

The rise in Islamophobic attacks comes amid a broader erosion of public accountability for racism. Since Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, marked by a call for “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States,” such rhetoric has moved from fringe platforms into mainstream discourse.

Familiar pattern with new stakes

Muslim candidates for public office in the US have long faced suspicion and smear campaigns. Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib have endured years of harassment, and Mamdani’s treatment echoes those experiences. “We see the same Islamophobia from the same bigots anytime a Muslim runs for office. Now it’s been normalized,” Basim Elkarra of CAIR Action said.

Arab American Institute co-founder James Zogby told Axios that the political backlash is growing more explicit. “There are no repercussions anymore,” he said. “But I don’t think it’s going to fly this time.”

Despite the backlash, Mamdani’s campaign remains energized. Analysts suggest that the bigotry directed at him may backfire, further consolidating support among the city’s diverse electorate. His refusal to disavow the phrase “globalize the intifada” shortly before the primary drew criticism, including from the ADL, but Mamdani clarified that he interprets the slogan as “a desperate desire for equality” in support of Palestinian rights.

He has consistently promised to govern inclusively. “I want to be a mayor for all New Yorkers,” Mamdani said, focusing on housing affordability and economic justice as his primary campaign issues.

Mamdani’s rise marks a significant moment for Muslim political engagement in the United States. With an estimated 3 to 4 million Muslim Americans, the community’s increasing political clout is reshaping the national conversation, even as candidates like Mamdani face renewed hostility from entrenched political forces and Israeli lobbies.