Mamdani's NYC Victory Triggers Wave of Anti-Muslim Sentiment, Advocates Say

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Zohran Mamdani’s Primary Election Sparks Surge of Online Hate

Zohran Mamdani reacts alongside his parents, Mahmood Mamdani and Mira Nair, and his wife, Rama Duwaji, during a watch party for his primary election in New York City on June 25, 2025. — Reuters

Rise in Online Hate: Advocates report a dramatic increase in online incidents of hate after the polls closed.
Islamophobic Language: Over 6,200 online posts included various forms of Islamophobic slurs.
Historic Potential: If victorious, Zohran Mamdani could become New York City’s first Muslim mayor.

Following the unexpected victory of Democratic primary candidate Zohran Mamdani, anti-Muslim online hate has skyrocketed, including death threats and derogatory comments drawing comparisons to the September 11 terrorist attacks, according to advocacy groups.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) noted at least 127 reports of violent hate directed at Mamdani and his campaign on the day after the election, a significant jump from the usual daily average. Their monitoring system recorded approximately 6,200 online mentions of Islamophobic insults or hostility during this period.

Mamdani, a 33-year-old state legislator who identifies as a democratic socialist, declared his victory on Tuesday after former Governor Andrew Cuomo acknowledged defeat. If he wins the general election in November, Mamdani, who was born in Uganda to Indian parents, would make history as the first Muslim and Indian American mayor of New York City.

"We urge public officials from all parties—especially those whose allies are propagating these insults—to categorically denounce Islamophobia," stated Basim Elkarra, executive director of CAIR Action.

According to CAIR, around 62% of the hateful posts directed at Mamdani originated on the platform X (formerly Twitter), with many comments reportedly from supporters of former President Donald Trump, including one of his sons, Donald Trump Jr. He shared a post claiming that "New York City has fallen" and suggested that voters supported 9/11. Additionally, Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene posted an AI-generated image of the Statue of Liberty in a burqa.

Rights advocates point to Trump’s administration’s policies as fostering an environment of anti-Muslim sentiment, including travel bans from predominantly Muslim countries. The White House has denied any allegations of discrimination, asserting that opposition to Mamdani is based on his alignment with what they term "radical left" ideologies.

Investigations into Threats

The New York City Police Department is currently investigating threats made against Mamdani through its hate crime unit. Observers like Manjusha Kulkarni, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, highlighted that the attacks on Mamdani resemble those faced by other South Asian and Muslim politicians, such as former Vice President Kamala Harris and Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib.

Mamdani’s pro-Palestinian stance has led some Republicans to label him antisemitic, a claim he firmly refutes. He does enjoy support from figures such as New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who is Jewish and previously ran in the Democratic primary.

There has been a noted increase in both antisemitism and Islamophobia since the onset of the Israel-Gaza conflict, with violent incidents in the U.S. including an attack on two staffers at the Israeli embassy and the stabbing of a Muslim child in Illinois.

Many advocates, including some Jewish organizations, maintain that criticism of Israel should not be equated with antisemitism.