For the first time in history, a Ugandan-born Muslim of South Asian descent has won the mayoralty of New York City, the world's foremost capitalist citadel. Record voter turnout led to the victory of the 34-year-old leftist politician, Zohran Kwame Mamdani, despite an aggressive advertising campaign and slander against him. International media outlets in Muslim countries examined the circumstances of the new mayor's victory and his path.
The National's article, dedicated to the victory of the "charismatic democratic socialist", notes the effectiveness of Mamdani's sincere and courageous position. "I haven't felt this excited about a candidate since Obama was elected," voter Lisa, who gave only her first name, told the publication. It also noted that the youngest mayor of New York City failed to secure the endorsement of Barack Obama himself, Joe Biden, and Nancy Pelosi, reflecting the success of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.
The left-wing democrat's victory effectively posed a challenge to the party's mainstream. While the democratic establishment tried to push the party toward the center, Mamdani was unafraid to take firm stances on controversial issues — from criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza to promises of free public transport. However, these bold social initiatives (including an increase in the minimum wage and city grocery stores offering discounts) are not backed by clear financial mechanisms, raising doubts about their feasibility.
"Democrats' sincerity could help them win," concludes The National's Washington bureau chief, Thomas Watkins. Kamala Harris, according to the author, lost largely because she tried to be "all things to all people". Mamdani's polemical stance alienated millions of New Yorkers, but resonated with millions more. "In modern America, we're accustomed to the victory of controversial figures – just ask Mr. Trump," the columnist quips.
The current American president is extremely unpopular in his native New York, so any attacks on Mamdani only further emboldened his supporters. Trump called the new mayor of the Big Apple a "Jew hater", sparking a storm of fury on the right and renewed calls to strip Mamdani of his citizenship. Many of them claim the new mayor is a radical Muslim anti-Semite who supported the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and wants to introduce Sharia law in New York. This is a blatant lie, and Mamdani's campaign in Urdu and Arabic is a tribute to his roots.
On the pages of Asharq Al-Awsat, the authors call for a sober look at Mamdani's victory. In the opinion of Hazem Saghieh, New York City's new mayor, is neither a radical threat nor a symbol of a coming revolution. His success is explained by more mundane factors: the deteriorating economy and quality of life in the city, the backlash against Trump's policies, and the fact that his diverse identity reflects New York City's pluralism.
Of course, the victory also testifies to the influence of the Israeli-Palestinian issue. A third of New York's Jewish voters supported him, indicating a shift in sentiment, especially among young people. Israel's military actions in Gaza, which go beyond self-defence, are causing growing revulsion around the world. However, to portray Mamdani's victory as a crushing defeat for Israel, capitalism, the West, and "white supremacy", according to the author, is to add to "an already saturated lexicon of idiocy."
The events in Gaza in 2023 became a catalyst for political change in the United States, forcing voters to reassess their priorities. Protests against funding foreign conflicts, coupled with the country's domestic problems, created a new political climate.
Eyad Abu Shakra echoes his colleague in many ways: Mamdani's victory is an exception, not the rule. The United States is a deeply divided country, where states differ radically in their levels of development and political leanings. The parties have also transformed: the Republicans now unite religious conservatives and right-wing oligarchs, while the Democrats represent a broad coalition ranging from moderates to socialists. The battle for American identity continues, and it's too early to draw far-reaching conclusions from one local victory.
The international version of the Lebanese publication Al-Akhbar also calls the events in Gaza a catalyst for political change in the United States. Al-Akhbar also published an article about Zohran's father - Mahmoud Mamdani. A biographical and somewhat bibliographical article entitled "The Exiled Revolutionary Intellectual" argues that the rise of New York City's first mayor of Eastern and Muslim descent was made possible by the ideological path traversed by his father.
Mamdani's life and academic career were shaped by decades of political struggle and exile. In 1963, he participated in the civil rights movement in the United States, was imprisoned for his activism, expelled from Uganda in 1972, and by 1984, stateless. His personal experience of oppression informed his critique of the nation-state.
In his key works, such as "Citizen and Subject" (1996) and "Neither Settler nor Native" (2020), Mamdani Sr. argues that the modern state creates "sovereign" majorities by marginalizing "non-sovereign" minorities. The central idea is the rejection of this destructive binary in favor of a politics of coexistence. This call for justice, born out of personal struggle, Zohran Mamdani inherited and embodies this in his political career.
The National, in turn, highlighted the rest of the new mayor's family. Syrian-American artist Rama Duwaji, known for her black-and-white illustrations exploring themes of sisterhood, Arab identity, and political resistance, has found herself in the spotlight following her husband's election. Born in Houston and raised in Dubai, Duwaji actively uses her platform to visually highlight current events and support marginalized communities, including openly speaking out in solidarity with Palestine.
The elegant, cinematic videos that marked the New York mayor's campaign are a skill he likely inherited from his mother, Mira Nair, suggests The National. A renowned, Oscar-nominated director, Nair has been crafting powerful, compelling stories for decades, from the Golden Lion-winning "Monsoon Wedding" to her acclaimed debut, "Salaam Bombay!"
In light of these facts, Zohran Mamdani's resounding victory in the elections is not just a personal triumph, but a continuation of a family legacy rooted in the struggle for justice. The strength he draws from his father's legacy, his wife's creative support, and his mother's vision imbues Mamdani's political mission with a deeply personal character. Therefore, fulfilling the promises made to voters seems to be the fulfillment of his moral duty, responsibility to the memory of his ancestors and, ultimately, a covenant before the Almighty.
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Photo: Bingjiefu He/Creative Commons 4.0