Mamdani’s victory expresses hope and political voices for Muslim Americans | Zohran Mamdani

Zohran Mamdani victory New York City The Mayor’s Democratic primary has a bunch of aunts and uncles from Pakistani America that are so excited that they want to know whether they should give their children more freedom to choose their careers. “What if we let our kids become politicians, not just doctors and engineers?” asked members of the grassroots political group Drum Beats, a small celebration held last month at an Islamic school in Brooklyn.

Drum Beats, representing the South Asian working class and Indian-Caribbean population of New York City, was one of the first grassroots groups to support Mamdani when he started his campaign in October – long before he became a household name. More than 300 volunteers spoke near more than a dozen languages, knocking on at least 10,000 doors to support him. Drum Beat says these efforts are helpful Increase voter turnout In some communities, nearly 90% of Indian Caribbean and South Asians.

this Unconcealed 33-year-old congressman When he started the campaign, he ranked at the bottom of the game. Now, Mandani has the opportunity to become New York City’s first Asian American and Muslim mayor. His family came to the United States when he was seven and became a citizen in 2018. He was born in Kampala, Uganda, Indian parents.

Mamdani’s campaign has aroused the interest of many South Asian Americans, as well as a variety of Muslims – not only because of his identity, but also his platform. Many Muslims, even those who may not fully agree with Mamdani’s approach on every issue, have risen to be a sign of hope in the city of racism and Islamophobia after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

“We are taking a leadership role that challenges long-standing assumptions New York and Americans are more extensive. ” said Youssef Chouhoud, an associate professor of political science at Christopher Newport University and an expert on Muslim Americans.

Leaders of Muslims across the United States

Mamdani faces Islamophobia Onlinefrom both sides Political aisle. Republican Congressman Andy Ogles demanded material support for the terrorist allegations against Mamdani without providing evidence and urged him to be deported. (The Bush administration used these allegations after 9/11 to shut down the largest Muslim and pro-Palestinian charities in the United States, which are often considered as Politically motivated investigation. ) Donald Trump After that, Mamdani’s citizenship was wrongly questioned, and the government’s Homeland Security Advisory Committee has Look at him.

Although about 1 million Muslims in New York City are not enough to decide on the November election, Mandani is widely popular nationwide. Polls show Muslim Americans list issues and affordability related to Gaza as Top mission,reflect Broader trends and Transfer exist The foundation of democracy. It also coincides with the highest point of Mamdani campaigns, such as affordable housing, said Nazita Lajevardi, associate professor of political science at Michigan State University. She noted that Muslims and many Democrats, including some Jewish Americans, were shocked by the Israeli attack on Gaza and believed they had no good choice in the 2024 presidential election.

According to the Mandani campaign in almost one-third of the region won by Trump in 2024. Gothicists.

Mamdani’s right to advocate for Palestinian rights includes the creation of legislation that would prohibit the city’s organizations from remitting money to charities supporting Israeli reconciliation activities.

His position on Israel and whether he would condemn the “globalization uprising” repeatedly grilled. He often made affirmations that he would protect Jewish New Yorkers. He recognizes Israel’s right to survive, but is only a country that grants equal rights to its citizens.

For some pro-Palestine advocates, formal recognition of Israel is closely skewed towards legalization nakba -When more than 750,000 Palestinians were permanently expelled from their homeland. Others say this is largely a semantic problem. Even Mamdani’s critics on this issue thank him Refusal to support speeches His explanation of the “uprising” also means “legal protest.” The Palestinian Youth Movement is Instagram Mamdani’s victory shows that “the path to resistance itself is not politically expensive for American voters in 2025.”

“He supports us at critical moments”

Asad Dandia, a well-known community activist, successfully sued the New York Police Department (NYPD) in 2013 for illegally surveillance of Muslim New Yorkers, and has been supporting Mamdani’s campaign. He often hears Mamdani speak at the city’s mosque.

Dandia said the key information remains affordability. Zara Rahim, senior adviser to the Mamdani campaign, said Mamdani’s campaign visited 136 mosques, and he personally visited about 40 mosques. “Many of the mission’s purposes are essentially Muslims: justice, compassion, commitment to the community,” she said. The campaign also conducted a formal on-site outreach program focused on indifference calling and relationship building with the mosque.

Mamdani embraces being Muslim and South Asian, helping many voters excite themselves from adopting the psychedelic aesthetic of Eid Mubarak Whatsapp to using nostalgic Bollywood references. His strong support for LGBTQ+ and trans rights does not seem to have led him to vote among more conservative Muslim supporters.

Despite this, Mamdani’s identity is not enough. “One lesson that the left needs to learn is that identity politics cannot win your election,” said Raza Ali, organizer with drums. “You need a political plan to speak to people with serious inequality in society.”

SK M Mobinul HoqueA Muslim Bangladeshi taxi driver who lives in Queens said he voted for Mamdani in the Democratic primary – but he didn’t even know that Mamdani was Muslim until after he voted. “I don’t even care. He supports us at critical moments; that’s why I support him.”

Hoque remembers affectionately that Mamdani’s advocacy for taxi drivers like him who wreak havoc on debt caused by the city’s controversial medal plan. By 2021, Hawke has accumulated about $440,000 in debt, and has heard Five drivers Who died suicide. Mamdani went on a hunger strike for more than two weeks while protesting in front of the city hall and joined the TWA taxi alliance. The city then reached an agreement with the union on debt forgiveness.

“If you don’t fulfill your promise, we will be responsible”

In view of its history Surveillance of Muslim Americans After 9/11. Many of New York City’s drum members are deeply influenced by the infiltration of the New York Police Department and the FBI’s vast student body and mosques. The federal government ran away Elaborately crafted stinging action Informers are sometimes under pressure Fragile Muslims agree Participate in violent land – and use their subsequent cooperate Throw them into jail.

The Homeland Security Act of 2002 was in response to the rhetoric of confusing Muslims with terrorists and paved the way for the establishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “Ice was born from anti-Muslim hatred,” said Heba Gowayed, associate professor of sociology at Cuny Hunter College.

Ice’s immigrants shrouded immigrants and their ability to operate on Rikers Island after a deal struck between New York City’s current mayor Eric Adams, sparking old fears about law enforcement. In Astoria, Rana Abdelhamid, who runs Malikah in Malikah, said in Astoria, undocumented Middle East and North African immigrants would try to deport them. Earlier this year,,,,, After ICE’s increased activity in Astoria, a street vendor crashed into Malikah’s office. She said: “He was frantically asking: ‘Can I take the train to work today?'”

South Asian immigrants with drums are also scared. After 9/11, some Muslim communities won election support with any candidate they think they would win, hoping that this could help them get rewards. Ali said the group is trying to move voters in a different direction – “a new politics stemming from community defense.” Mamdani has committed to protecting immigrants by expanding the budget for legal representation.

Drum beats are already considering announcing voters in November. At the June meeting, Ali urged members: “Don’t let that energy go away.” He also highlighted the long-term goal of building strength for working-class communities. “We don’t support (Mamdani) because we think he is a Messiah and will save New York City,” Ali said. “If you don’t keep your promise, we will take responsibility – whether you are Zohran, Cuomo or Eric Adams.”