Newly inaugurated socialist New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani placed his Muslim faith at the centre of his January 1st ceremony. He took the oath of office on two Qurans as an imam led a public prayer before the crowd.
Aged 34, Mamdani is the first Muslim mayor of New York City, raising concerns among Jews and Christians in the city.
The election has drawn sharp reactions from pro-Israel figures and right-wing commentators, who have attacked Mamdani over his outspoken support for Palestinian rights and opposition to Israel’s existence as a Jewish state.
During the ceremony, Imam Khalid Latif of the Islamic Center of New York City delivered a prayer emphasizing social justice and economic dignity, urging the new mayor to govern on behalf of ordinary New Yorkers rather than elites. Mamdani has previously said he was advised to minimise his religious identity while running for office but he chose to ignore the advice.
