Zohran Mamdani Faces Islamophobic Attacks as NYC Mayoral Frontrunner

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic frontrunner for New York City mayor, has publicly defended his Muslim faith against Islamophobic attacks from his opponents as early voting begins. Speaking outside a Bronx mosque, Mamdani condemned the rising hatred and emphasized that Islamophobia affects both him and the city's nearly one million Muslim residents. His remarks followed a controversial incident where his chief rival, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, laughed during a radio show at a suggestion that Mamdani would celebrate another 9/11 attack, drawing widespread condemnation from Muslim advocacy groups. Mamdani stressed that despite attempts to focus on affordability issues, Islamophobia has become a unifying tactic among his opponents. He also received a significant endorsement from US Representative Hakeem Jeffries, who praised Mamdani's commitment to addressing the affordability crisis and being a mayor for all New Yorkers. Throughout the campaign, Mamdani has highlighted his immigrant background and faith with emotional appeals to New Yorkers facing prejudice, aiming to become the city's first Muslim mayor.