New York City welcomes its first Muslim mayor, taking oath on Quran

Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as mayor of New York City (NYC) just after midnight January 1 in a historic, decommissioned subway station in Manhattan, marking a milestone as the city’s first Muslim leader. Mamdani, a Democrat, placed his hand on a Quran as he took the oath, The Associated Press reports.

“This is truly the honor and the privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani said in brief remarks during the private ceremony, administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a political ally. The ceremony took place at the old City Hall station, one of the city’s original subway stops, renowned for its arched ceilings.

In his first comments as mayor, Mamdani called the venue “a testament to the importance of public transit to the vitality, the health and the legacy of our city,” while announcing his new Department of Transportation commissioner, Mike Flynn. Mamdani concluded with a smile: “Thank you all so much, now I will see you later,” before ascending a flight of stairs.

Mamdani will be sworn in again publicly at 1 p.m. at City Hall by US Senator Bernie Sanders, followed by a block party along Broadway’s “Canyon of Heroes,” site of the city’s famous ticker-tape parades.

At 34, Mamdani is the city’s youngest mayor in generations, the first of South Asian descent, and the first born in Africa. His campaign emphasized affordability, promising free childcare, free buses, a rent freeze for roughly one million households, and a pilot program for city-run grocery stores.

Born in Kampala, Uganda, Mamdani moved to New York at age seven, becoming a US citizen in 2018. He served in the state Assembly representing Queens from 2020, after working on local Democratic campaigns. Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji, will move from a rent-stabilized apartment to the mayoral residence in Manhattan.

Mamdani inherits a city rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic, with low crime, returning tourism, and restored employment, yet faces challenges from high costs of living and potential tensions with Republican President Donald Trump.

“I want him to do a great job and will help him do a great job,” Trump said, following a cordial November White House meeting. Mamdani will also navigate skepticism from parts of the Jewish community and manage city operations, including policing, trash, snow, and transit, with a transition team of experienced city officials.

By Vafa Guliyeva