Mamdani Defends Muslim Identity Amid Cuomo’s Islamophobia Claims/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani gave an emotional speech defending his Muslim identity after attacks from former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and others. Mamdani accused opponents of fueling Islamophobia and vowed to embrace his faith more openly. The controversy highlights deep political divides ahead of early voting in the high-stakes election.
Mamdani Speech Quick Look
- Event: Zohran Mamdani delivers emotional speech outside Bronx mosque.
- Message: Defends Muslim identity after “racist and baseless” political attacks.
- Opponents: Cuomo, Sliwa, and Adams accused of Islamophobic rhetoric.
- Controversy: Cuomo laughed at offensive 9/11 remark during radio show.
- Video Incident: Cuomo campaign briefly posted mocking clip, later removed.
- Mamdani’s Stand: Says he will “no longer hide” his faith.
- Support: Endorsed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on same day.
- Criticism: Cuomo claims Mamdani’s comments on Israel “divide people.”
- Response: Mamdani says his goal is equality for all New Yorkers.
- Election Context: Race grows increasingly tense ahead of early voting.
Zohran Mamdani Defends Muslim Identity Amid Attacks in NYC Mayoral Race
Deep Look
NEW YORK — In a deeply emotional speech on Friday, Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani forcefully defended his Muslim identity and denounced what he described as “racist and baseless” attacks from former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other political rivals in the final days of the New York City mayoral race.
Surrounded by faith leaders outside a Bronx mosque, Mamdani spoke through visible emotion, recalling personal and family experiences with Islamophobia in New York. He described how his aunt avoided public transportation after 9/11 out of fear for her safety and shared how relatives once advised him to downplay his religion when entering politics.
“These are the lessons Muslim New Yorkers have been taught for decades,” Mamdani said. “And in the past few days, those same lessons have become the closing arguments of Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa, and Eric Adams.”
Mamdani, a democratic socialist and the first Muslim to win the Democratic nomination for mayor in New York, vowed to more openly embrace his faith moving forward, declaring:
“No more hiding. No more shrinking. I will not change who I am.”
Cuomo Denies Islamophobia, Escalates Criticism
In a press conference later Friday, Cuomo accused Mamdani of “playing the victim” and dismissed concerns about widespread Islamophobia in the city. His campaign has drawn criticism after a series of inflammatory remarks and social media posts.
Earlier this week, Cuomo appeared on a conservative radio show where host Sid Rosenberg joked that Mamdani would “cheer” a repeat of the 9/11 attacks. Cuomo chuckled and replied, “That’s another problem,” prompting outrage. He later claimed he didn’t take the comment seriously and called it “offensive,” though he did not apologize.
Additionally, a Cuomo campaign account briefly posted a video that mocked Mamdani for eating rice with his hands and labeled his supporters criminals. The video was later removed, and a spokesperson claimed it had been posted in error.
Mayor Eric Adams, appearing alongside Cuomo at a campaign event, added to the controversy by referencing terror attacks abroad.
“New York can’t be Europe,” Adams said. “You see what’s playing out in other countries because of Islamic extremism.”
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa echoed similar rhetoric during a debate, falsely accusing Mamdani of supporting “global jihad.”
Mamdani’s Response: “No More Hiding”
In his speech, Mamdani made it clear that his remarks were not directed at his political rivals but rather aimed to reach fellow Muslim New Yorkers who, like him, have felt sidelined or stereotyped.
“The dream of every Muslim is simply to be treated the same as any other New Yorker,” he said. “Yet for too long, we’ve been told to ask for less — to be grateful for whatever we’re given. No more.”
He acknowledged that earlier in his campaign he had made a conscious choice to avoid overtly centering his religion, hoping to steer the conversation toward his policy platform. But the recent wave of attacks convinced him otherwise.
“I thought that if I bit my tongue and stayed on message, I could be seen as more than my religion. I was wrong. There is no redirection strong enough when your identity is the target,” he said.
“I will no longer look for myself in the shadows. I will find myself in the light.”
Growing Support and Sharp Divides
Mamdani’s remarks came just hours after he received a key endorsement from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, signaling growing support from prominent Democrats despite internal party divisions.
Some centrist Democrats remain wary of Mamdani’s past criticisms of the Israeli government, including his accusation that Israel committed genocide in Gaza. Cuomo has seized on those remarks to portray Mamdani as radical and divisive, even suggesting they have made Jewish New Yorkers “afraid to leave their homes.”
“He’s dividing people,” Cuomo told reporters. “That’s the oldest, dirtiest political trick in the book.”
But Mamdani’s supporters argue the attacks are rooted in Islamophobia and are part of a calculated effort to marginalize him based on religion.
Friday’s speech marked a turning point in Mamdani’s campaign, as he embraced his identity publicly and without reservation. With early voting beginning this weekend, the stakes are high for a race that has become one of the most contentious in recent memory.
In his speech Friday, Mamdani said he was aiming his remarks not at political opponents but at his fellow Muslim New Yorkers.
To that end, Mamdani said he would further embrace his Muslim identity, a decision he said he consciously avoided at the start of his campaign.
“I thought that if I behaved well enough, or bit my tongue enough in the face of racist, baseless attacks, all while returning back to my central message, it would allow me to be more than just my faith,” Mamdani said. “I was wrong. No amount of redirection is ever enough.”
He continued: “I will not change who I am, how I eat, or the faith that I’m proud to call my own. But there is one thing that I will change. I will no longer look for myself in the shadows. I will find myself in the light.”
He concluded: “The time for hiding is over.”
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