Desk Report,
Extremists are spreading Islamophobia in the United States around Zohraan
Every year, New York Muslims gather in Washington Square Park to pray on Eid, a time when the city’s religious and ethnic diversity shines through.
Extremists are spreading Islamophobia in the United States around Zohraan
But now, right-wing influencers are spreading videos of the gathering, calling it a “nefarious activity.” They are linking it to Muslim-American and Democratic mayoral candidate for New York City, Zohrab Mamdani.
“It’s a kind of scaremongering,” said Asad Dandiya, a local historian and Muslim-American activist. “I think our community and our leadership know that we are under surveillance now,” said Asad Dandiya, a supporter of Mamdani’s campaign.
Muslims across the United States, including in New York, say that Islamophobic rhetoric has increased since Mamdani’s recent victory in the Democratic primary.
Mamdani’s supporters say the hateful comments prove that Islamophobia remains a tolerated form of hate in the United States, although it has declined somewhat in recent years.
“As much as it has changed, nothing has really changed,” Dandiya said.
Anonymous users and anti-Muslim accounts are not the only ones attacking Mamdani and his Muslim identity. Many politicians close to President Donald Trump have also joined in such attacks.
Congressman Randy Fine has said, without providing any evidence, that Mamdani would establish a “caliphate” in New York if he wins. Another congresswoman, Marjorie Taylor Greene, posted a cartoon of the Statue of Liberty wearing a burqa on social media.
According to former US National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, “Islam is a political ideology, not a religion.”
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk has called Mamdani a “Muslim Maoist” in reference to the 9/11 attacks. And right-wing commentator Angie Wong said on CNN, “New Yorkers are feeling insecure with a Muslim mayor.”
Trump’s close and far-right ally Laura Loomer has called Mamdani a “jihadi Muslim” and has made baseless allegations that he has ties to Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood.
Republican Congressman Andy Ogles has written to the Justice Department demanding that Mamdani’s citizenship be revoked and he be deported.
