CAIR-NY Welcomes Mayor Mamdani's Revocation of Adams' 'Israel First' Executive Orders, Restoration of Free Speech
(NEW YORK, NY, 1/2/26) – The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s revocation of the former Mayor Adams’ “Israel First” executive orders.
Hours after being sworn in as mayor, Mamdani reversed all executive orders that Eric Adams signed in the year and a half since his criminal indictment, including an order enshrining the controversial and overly broad International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of "antisemitism" that is often used to censor criticism of the Israeli government's racism and crimes against humanity. Mamdani also revoked an unconstitutional executive order limiting boycotts of Israel over its violations of international law.
In a statement, CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher, Esq., said:
"We applaud Mayor Mamdani for immediately revoking the executive orders that former mayor Eric Adams issued after his criminal indictment, including an unconstitutional order restricting the ability of New Yorkers to criticize the Israeli government's racism or boycott Israel's human rights abuses against the Palestinian people.
"Mayor Adams' order would have enshrined the controversial IHRA definition of antisemitism even though its author has said it was never meant for government use and though the overly-broad definition declares any recognition of the Israeli government's racism or disagreement with Zionism as antisemitic. The order would have also unconstitutionally limited boycotts against only Israel.
"This unconstitutional, Israel First attack on free speech should have never been issued in the first place. We applaud Mayor Mamdani for immediately overturning it."
Yesterday, CAIR and CAIR-NY called Zohran Mamdani’s swearing-in as New York City’s first Muslim mayor is an “historic moment of progress” for the entire nation, American Muslim public service and all advocates for justice.
SEE: Zohran Mamdani chose a Quran full of symbolism for his mayoral oath – Associated Press
SEE ALSO: In Mamdani’s New York, Muslims become a political and demographic force – Washington Post
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: Afaf Nasher, Esq., CAIR-NY Executive Director, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com; CAIR-NY Communications Team, comms@ny.cair.com; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com