Zohran Mamdani’s improbable journey from Muslim immigrant to mayor-elect in New York City resonated across the globe in unpredictable ways. Source: New York Times
Posts published in “Muslims and Islam”
Mamdani is New York’s First Muslim and South Asian Mayor-Elect
By Gotham Rex on November 4, 2025
Zohran Mamdani’s ascent was powered by a relentless focus on affordability. Along the way, he energized South Asian and Muslim communities that rarely receive sustained attention from politicians. Source: New York Times
Vance Criticizes Mamdani’s Comments About Islamophobia After 9/11
By Gotham Rex on October 26, 2025
Zohran Mamdani said the vice president’s attack on social media was one in a series of “cheap jokes about Islamophobia.” Source: New York Times
Mamdani Says Rivals Are Pushing Hate as Mayor’s Race Enters Last Stretch
By Gotham Rex on October 24, 2025
Zohran Mamdani’s opponents, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, denied accusations that they are stoking Islamophobia with their rhetoric and actions. Source: New York Times
For the First Time in the Mayor’s Race, Cuomo Campaigns at a Mosque
By Gotham Rex on September 12, 2025
Andrew M. Cuomo, who has faced criticism for bypassing mosques as he seeks to become mayor, spoke of New York as a beacon of opportunity during an appearance in the Bronx. Source: New York Times
A Corner of Bed-Stuy Is Attracting African Migrants During Ramadan
By Gotham Rex on March 29, 2024
New migrants from Africa have joined a changing community in Bedford-Stuyvesant, where they have injected more youthful energy but also brought challenges. Source: New York Times
Ex-State Dept. Official Ordered to Bias Training After Anti-Muslim Rant
By Gotham Rex on January 18, 2024
If Stuart Seldowitz completes the program, the charges he faces for berating a food truck vendor would be dropped, prosecutors said. A Muslim group called it a “sweetheart deal.” Source: New York Times
Menendez Inquiry Said to Involve Company That Certifies Halal Meat
By Gotham Rex on October 28, 2022
Federal agents have been asking about IS EG Halal, a New Jersey firm that Egypt made its sole certifier for meat exports from America, an inquiry that appears to include Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey. Source: New York Times
Suspect in Rushdie Attack Loses His Mother’s Support
By Gotham Rex on August 17, 2022
Hadi Matar, 24, kept to himself and was changed by a 2018 trip to the Middle East. Source: New York Times
The Stabbing of Salman Rushdie Renews Free Speech Debates
By Gotham Rex on August 15, 2022
After the attack, writers and world leaders hailed Rushdie as a symbol of free expression. But the battle lines around his novel “The Satanic Verses” were never cleanly drawn. Source: New York Times
Salman Rushdie Is Off Ventilator and Starting to Recover
By Gotham Rex on August 14, 2022
Mr. Rushdie’s agent said Sunday that the writer, who was attacked on Friday after years under threat, was beginning a slow journey of healing. Source: New York Times
Video Shows Chaotic Scene After Salman Rushdie Was Attacked Onstage
By Gotham Rex on August 13, 2022
The writer, gravely wounded, was on a ventilator. Neither the hospital treating him nor his agent had updates on his condition early Saturday. Source: New York Times
What to Know About the Fatwa Against Salman Rushdie
By Gotham Rex on August 12, 2022
Many Muslims were angered by his novel “The Satanic Verses,” which fictionalized parts of the life of the Prophet Muhammad. Source: New York Times
Why Ramadan Generates Millions in Charitable Giving Every Year
By Gotham Rex on April 29, 2022
During the Muslim holy month, there is a strong focus on helping others. Source: New York Times
How the Site of a Bronx Fire Became a Haven for Gambians
By Gotham Rex on January 12, 2022
Abdoulie Touray is believed to have been the first Gambian to move into 333 E. 181st Street. He drew scores of compatriots to the building where 17 died in a fire. Source: New York Times