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Zohran Mamdani Faces Islamophobic Threats After NYC Primary Win
After NYC primary win, Zohran Mamdani hit with Islamophobic hate—death threats & 9/11 slurs surge. CAIR reports 5x spike in violent rhetoric. Advocates urge leaders to speak out.
ND
by News Desk
2025-06-27
Zohran Mamdani Faces Islamophobic Threats After NYC Primary Win

Just days after his historic upset in the Democratic primary, NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is facing a wave of violent Islamophobic online abuse, including death threats and posts likening his candidacy to the September 11 attacks, according to civil rights advocates.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Action, a prominent advocacy group, logged at least 127 violent or hate-related incidents mentioning Mamdani within 24 hours of the primary results. That marks a five-fold increase over the average daily rate earlier this month.

🚨 Online Hate Surge

CAIR Action says more than 6,200 online posts within the time frame included Islamophobic slurs, threats, or hate speech — with 62% originating on X (formerly Twitter).

“New York City has fallen,” wrote Donald Trump Jr., quoting a post claiming New Yorkers had “voted for 9/11.”

Other posts include AI-generated images like the Statue of Liberty in a burqa, shared by Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, in apparent reference to Mamdani’s Muslim identity.

Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman, would be New York City's first Muslim and Indian American mayor if elected in November. Born in Uganda to Indian parents, he identifies as a democratic socialist and ran on a platform focused on economic justice, affordable housing, and solidarity with Palestine.

🛑 Call to Action Against Hate

Basim Elkarra, executive director of CAIR Action, called on public officials from both parties to publicly condemn the attacks.

“This surge in hate is dangerous and unacceptable,” he said. “Political disagreement must never translate into dehumanizing an entire faith.”

👮‍♂️ Police Investigation Underway

The NYPD Hate Crimes Unit confirmed it is investigating threats made against Mamdani. Advocates fear the online rhetoric could incite real-world violence.

“We’ve seen this before with leaders like Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and even Kamala Harris,” said Manjusha Kulkarni of Stop AAPI Hate. “Being South Asian or Muslim in politics often means enduring double the threats.”

🧯 Accusations of Antisemitism

Mamdani has also been accused of antisemitism by Republican lawmakers due to his pro-Palestinian stance and vocal criticism of Israel's war in Gaza. He has strongly condemned antisemitism, and his campaign has been endorsed by Jewish progressive leaders, including NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, who also ran in the Democratic primary.

⚠️ Wider Context: A Rise in Hate

Since the start of the Israel-Gaza conflict in October 2023, both Islamophobia and antisemitism have risen sharply in the U.S. This includes violent incidents like the stabbing of a Muslim child in Illinois and the shooting of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington.

Rights groups warn that political rhetoric — particularly from figures close to former President Donald Trump — continues to escalate tensions and fuel hate against Muslim Americans.

 

📌 Key Points:

·       127 violent or hate-related online incidents logged post-election.

·       6,200+ Islamophobic posts recorded in one day.

·       Mamdani faces death threats and 9/11 comparisons.

·       Public figures, including Donald Trump Jr., have spread inflammatory rhetoric.

·       Police investigations into the threats are ongoing.

·       Mamdani has condemned antisemitism; critics conflate pro-Palestinian views with hate.
Tagged:

islamophobia

ZohranMamdani

NYCMayorRace

StopHate

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