A coalition of Muslim American lawmakers has strongly condemned the wave of Islamophobic and racist attacks unleashed against Zohran Mamdani following his historic win in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary held on June 24, reported the Newyork Times.
In a joint statement released on Saturday, Representatives Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, André Carson, and Lateefah Simon denounced the “vile and dangerous” rhetoric being circulated by several Republican lawmakers and right-wing figures. “These hateful, Islamophobic, and racist tropes have become so entrenched and normalized in our politics,” the statement read. “We know these attacks all too well,” they added, referencing their own experiences with anti-Muslim bigotry.
Tlaib and Omar, the first Muslim women elected to the U.S. Congress, have long been targets of Islamophobic abuse. They warned that the attacks against Mamdani are part of a wider pattern of dehumanization and hatred aimed at Muslim Americans. The lawmakers urged political leaders across the country to take a firm stand against such hate.
Representative Pramila Jayapal also spoke out, condemning the rhetoric as a “barrage of racist, anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant, and xenophobic assaults.” She criticized members of Congress and administration officials for fueling a “disgraceful and dangerous ideology” in the aftermath of Mamdani’s primary victory. Jayapal specifically called out Republican Rep. Andy Ogles, who has demanded Mamdani’s denaturalisation and deportation. “This is an insult to the voters of New York City,” she said, noting that Mamdani received more votes in the primary than Ogles has ever earned in his own political campaigns.
Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old Indian-origin Muslim and son of renowned Ugandan academic Mahmood Mamdani and acclaimed Indian filmmaker Mira Nair, won the Democratic primary by defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani secured 43.5% of first-choice votes, amounting to roughly 432,000 ballots.
Despite the win, GOP figures, including Representatives Nancy Mace and Andy Ogles, launched aggressive attacks. Mace attempted to link Mamdani to the 9/11 attacks, while Ogles referred to him with derogatory slurs like “little Muhammad,” and accused him of “pro-terrorist, communist views.” Ogles even called on the Department of Justice to explore denaturalisation proceedings against Mamdani.
These remarks have sparked widespread outrage. Civil rights organizations and political leaders have warned that such rhetoric not only fuels Islamophobia but poses a direct threat to the lives and safety of Muslim individuals and communities.
The general mayoral election is scheduled for November 4, where Mamdani will face Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. If elected, Mamdani will make history as New York City’s first Muslim and Indian-origin mayor.
