Mamdani must denounce the worrying anti-Israel sentiment among some Muslim New Yorkers

Much of the coverage of Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration will focus on how it heralds the rise of far-left socialists who aim to tax us until we cry.

But as he becomes the first mayor to take the oath of office on a Quran, Mamdani also represents the power of another voting bloc: Muslims.

With little fanfare, the number of Muslims in New York City has risen to nearly 1 million, representing 9% of the population. Twenty-two percent of all Muslims in America live in Gotham.

By some counts, they now equal the number of Jewish residents.

The shift has been happening for some time.

In 2016, the city recognized Eid al-Fitr (the end of Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice) as school holidays, and increased the number of halal options for students. During political campaigns, candidates now visit mosques as often as churches and synagogues.

Of course, as with any group, Muslims represent many interests and don’t vote in unison. Some have been here for generations. Others are new immigrants.

Many bodega owners are Muslim, and they were a strong voice when soft-on-crime laws led to an increase in shoplifting and violence. Yet there are also politicians like Mamdani that have called to defund the police.

One worrying trend, however, is a strong streak of anti-Israel sentiment among Muslim voters, which sometimes bleeds into violent calls against Jews, such as chants of “globalizing the intifada.” Mamdani already has been mealy-mouthed in denouncing the phrase, and had at least one member of his transition team resign after their antisemitic posts surfaced.

Muslims can rightly take pride in the rise of Mamdani, but the haters should not take his victory as license to harass Jews on college campuses and on the streets. And Mamdani should be quick to denounce such behavior.

He may be a symbol for Muslim New Yorkers, but he’s the mayor for all New Yorkers.