Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing criticism from local Muslim activists who plan to protest outside Gracie Mansion on Tuesday night. The protesters accuse Mamdani of promoting an extreme form of Islamism. Mamdani, who is New York City’s first Muslim mayor, is also criticized by hardline anti-Israel activists for not supporting Palestinian activism sufficiently since taking office.
Anila Ali, president of the American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council, stated her intention to join the protest, claiming that Mamdani's politics alienate moderate Muslims and harm relations between Muslim and Jewish communities in New York. Ali expressed concerns that Mamdani's leadership is being co-opted by Islamist ideologies, stating, "With Mamdani in office, we feel our religion is now hijacked once again and is being used by these Islamists."
Ali identifies as part of a movement of moderate Muslims who reject Islamist extremism and advocate for coexistence and religious freedom. She criticized Mamdani for representing a more radical version of Islam than that practiced by many American Muslims and accused groups like the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) of monopolizing the representation of Islam in America.
Criticism of Mamdani extends beyond moderate Muslim activists. Anti-Israel activist Nerdeen Kiswani has also voiced discontent, stating that Mamdani has not done enough to support Palestinian liberation. The protest is seen as a response to the broader political tensions in the U.S. regarding anti-Israel activism and Islamist movements.
Ali highlighted that Mamdani's support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and his comments about Israel's right to exist have alienated moderate Muslims and worsened interfaith relations. The protest aims to unite Muslims, Jews, and Christians against what Ali describes as extremist Islamist politics.
The protest is organized by End Jew Hatred in collaboration with various Muslim, Jewish, and Christian groups, including the American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council and the Catholic League. CAIR has acknowledged a request for comment, while Mamdani’s office has not yet responded.
