BREAKING: CAIR, CAIR-NY Call Zohran Mamdani’s Victory a ‘Historic Turning Point’ for Muslims in Politics and a ‘Rebuke’ of Both Islamophobia, Anti-Palestinian Politics
(NEW YORK, NY, 11/4/25) — The national headquarters and New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today congratulated New York Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani on his historic election as the first Muslim mayor of New York City.
CAIR and CAIR-NY also said that New York City’s election of a Muslim mayor who openly advocated for Palestinian human rights is a “major turning point” for Muslim political engagement and a “historic rebuke” of both anti-Muslim hate and anti-Palestinian politics.
In a statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:
“We congratulate Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani on his historic election as Mayor of New York City and we congratulate the people of New York City, including many New York Muslims, for exercising their right to vote in massive numbers.
“The election of New York City’s first Muslim mayor represents a historic turning point for American Muslim political engagement. Mayor-Elect Mamdani’s ability to win while openly advocating for Palestinian human rights and experiencing a barrage of anti-Muslim hate also marks a historic rebuke of both Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism in politics.
“We commend the college students and other young people in New York City who, just one year after being smeared and brutalized for protesting the genocide in Gaza, helped elect a mayor who vocally opposes that genocide and supports the right to peaceful protest.
“Regardless of whether anyone agrees with Mayor-Elect Mamdani’s stances on various policies issues, all Americans should celebrate our nation for once again showing that America is a place where people of all races, faiths and backgrounds can make history.”
[NOTE: As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, CAIR does not endorse or oppose candidates for office and makes no claims as to the favorability of one candidate being elected over another.]
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, CAIR-NY, 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 National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com