NY Muslims Aren't Victims; We Live With Confidence — Raza Responds to Mamdani’s Emotional Remarks at Mosque Event

Imam Sajjad Raza, a Muslim community leader in New York, has issued a public message responding to comments by Zohran Mamdani, a leading candidate in the New York City mayoral race.

Mamdani became emotional during a press conference held outside a mosque on Friday, where he spoke before worshippers about his experiences as a Muslim in America. Fighting back tears, he said that as a Muslim, he had been “the target of hatred and discrimination,” adding that he would “no longer hide” his Muslim identity but instead “declare it openly.” He also referenced a relative who, after the 9/11 attacks, avoided riding the subway due to fear of harassment over her hijab. His remarks quickly spread online and sparked wide discussion about the Muslim experience in the United States.

Reacting to the speech, Imam Sajjad Raza said he felt “compelled” to offer another perspective. According to him, Muslims in New York are not oppressed or denied rights.

“Based on my own experience and observation,” he said, “I can confidently say that Muslims here are not oppressed, nor do they face discrimination because of their faith.”

He suggested Mamdani may have been trying to stir sympathy from Muslim voters but noted that New York’s non-Muslim majority has played a significant role in his rise to public office.

“These same New Yorkers, knowing that he is Muslim, first elected him as a State Assembly member, and now may well make him the mayor of America’s largest city,” he stated.

Raza cautioned against reframing the narrative of 9/11 victims.

“The true victims were not his aunt,” he said, “but the more than 3,000 innocent people who lost their lives that day and never again had the chance to take the subway.”

He emphasized the freedoms and acceptance Muslims enjoy in New York City, pointing to the more than 400 mosques across the city, halal meal options in schools, dedicated prayer spaces in universities and hospitals, and visible public religious celebrations.

“Alhamdulillah, Muslims in New York live with dignity, security, and opportunity,” he said, adding that the community includes “more than 4,000 Muslim officers” serving in the NYPD.

Raza also argued that Mamdani’s political success is a testament to American openness.

“No matter how talented he might be, such a rapid rise would have been nearly impossible in most Muslim countries,” he noted.

He pointed out that despite Mamdani’s liberal political positions, including support for LGBTQ+ rights and sex-work decriminalization, he is still welcomed in mosques and embraced across diverse communities.

“At such a moment,” Raza wrote, “it would be more befitting for him to express gratitude toward this nation and city, rather than fueling division through emotionally charged religious rhetoric.”

While acknowledging that America has flaws, Raza called on Muslims to contribute positively to society.

“As Muslims,” he said, “it is our duty to show gratitude and to demonstrate through our actions that Islam is a faith of peace, love, and coexistence.”

The message concluded with a reminder that Muslim Americans should see themselves as contributors to — not victims within — their adopted home.