NEW YORK — Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s first Ramadan in City Hall has put his Muslim identity at the center of New York politics — deepening his connection with supporters while fueling a wave of backlash from critics on the right.
Over the past month, Mamdani has embraced a highly visible public role during the holy month, attending at least 17 iftars across the five boroughs to break the fast that millions of Muslims around the world observe. He held a private dinner with activist Mahmoud Khalil and his family at Gracie Mansion, attended nightly prayers at mosques around the city and concluded his month-long religious observance with an Eid al-Fitr prayer Friday morning in Brooklyn.
Yet the last 30 days have been fraught for the mayor, marred with controversies and threats that thrust his religious identity into the center of public discourse…