Community Activist Kurtulus Calls for Termination of NYC Official Over Alleged Islamophobic Post
A Staten Island community activist has formally called on the Office of Mayor Eric Adams to terminate Assistant Commissioner Erick Salgado of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) following allegations of Islamophobic conduct.
In a letter addressed to Camille Joseph Varlack, Chief of Staff at City Hall, Ibrahim Kurtulus expressed deep concern over a social media post by Salgado that allegedly depicted Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani alongside the September 11 attacks. Kurtulus described the post as “deeply offensive” and incompatible with the responsibilities of a senior City official.
Kurtulus argued that Salgado’s conduct violated several city regulations, including the NYC Equal Employment Opportunity Policy, which prohibits discriminatory or harassing conduct based on religion or ethnicity, as well as the NYC Social Media Guidelines, which forbid inflammatory or derogatory statements by City employees. He also cited NYC Charter §2604(b)(2), noting that public servants must avoid actions that undermine public trust in City institutions.
“The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs is charged with supporting immigrant communities, including Muslim, Arab, South Asian, and other groups directly harmed by this post,” Kurtulus wrote. He emphasized that bigotry in one form—whether Islamophobia, antisemitism, or attacks on Hindus—threatens all communities, and called for decisive action to protect civil rights and public trust.
Kurtulus further stated that allowing Salgado to remain in a leadership role would send a “devastating message” that discrimination is tolerated at the highest levels of City government. “New York City must lead by example. Hate has no place in our public institutions,” he wrote.
The activist also underscored the importance of solidarity, declaring, “When an attack is made on one of us, it is an attack on all of us,” affirming support for Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Turkish, Arab, and South Asian New Yorkers.
Kurtulus concluded the letter by respectfully but firmly requesting the immediate termination of Salgado and offered to discuss the matter further with the Mayor’s Office.
The Mayor’s Office has not yet issued a public response to the letter.
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