To Be Inaugurated on January 1, Mamdani Promises New York Will Fight Islamophobia and Racism

JAKARTA - The elected mayor of New York City, United States, Zohran Mamdani, promised to consistently fight Islamophobia and racism against Palestinians when he takes office next week.

Mamdani was elected as New York's 111th mayor last November. The first Muslim mayor in New York will be inaugurated on January 1.

"As the mayor. I will make it my duty to respect, protect, and celebrate all New Yorkers and fight Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism in every corner," he said, recounting his conversation with a Palestinian student who faced online harassment and death threats after conspiracy theorists falsely blamed him for a shooting that killed many people, Anadolu (24/12) reported.

Mamdani said on the social media X, Mustapha Kharbouch, a student at Brown University, was targeted after a photo showing him wearing a keffiyeh went viral online, sparking what the elected mayor described as Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism.

"The Palestinian heritage of Kharbouch is the basis of the doxxing and threats he faces," said Mamdani.

In the phone conversation, Kharbouch also informed the mayor-elect of his academic interests in international relations and anthropology, his summer internship in New York City, and his consideration of pursuing a PhD, Mamdani said.

"I told Mustapha that we would be very happy if he returned to New York City," Mamdani said.

Mamdani (34), a democratic socialist, won a tight race that attracted national attention. He won the hearts of young voters with his campaign focused on affordability, including a promise to freeze rents and raise taxes on the rich.