New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has come under fire online for comments he made about his wife Rama Duwaji’s art. An illustration by Duwaji appeared in an essay by Palestinian American author Susan Abulhawa, known for her pro-Palestinian activism and criticism of Israel and Zionism.
Abulhawa has previously been criticized for language used while talking about Israel and Jewish people, including terms like “vampires” and “ghouls.” Asked about this rhetoric and Duwaji’s illustrations for the writing, Mamdani condemned the language as “patently unacceptable” and “reprehensible.”
His response sparked criticism from pro‑Palestinian voices and others online who argued he mishandled the question and failed to defend his wife…