Latest news with #Islamophobic
Politico
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Politico
Muslim Democrats ask leaders to denounce Islamophobic attacks on Zohran Mamdani
All four Muslim Democratic House members are denouncing 'racist smears' against Zohran Mamdani from lawmakers in both parties since his New York City mayoral primary win, according to a statement provided first to POLITICO. 'The vile, anti-Muslim and racist smears from our colleagues on both sides of the aisle attacking Zohran Mamdani cannot be met with silence. These hateful, Islamophobic, and racist tropes have become so entrenched and normalized in our politics,' said Reps. Andre Carson of Indiana, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Lateefah Simon of California in a statement. The lawmakers said that 'at a time when we are facing increased violence against elected officials, we cannot allow the attacks on Zohran Mamdani to continue' and asked for elected leaders to speak out on them. Mamdani, who would become New York's first Muslim mayor, has faced attacks from GOP lawmakers after his primary win this week. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) tied him to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) called for him to be deported, among others. The left was also concerned about since-clarified comments from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) about Mamdani's rhetoric about Israel. Critics of the democratic socialist have called some of his comments about Israel, including his defense of the phrase 'globalize the intifada,' antisemitic, which he's denied. The Muslim lawmakers have sought a more forceful pushback from their leaders to the GOP attacks and have privately approached Democratic leadership about doing so. Speaker Mike Johnson didn't answer a question from a reporter Friday asking him to respond to the remarks from Mace, Ogles and others.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Marjorie Taylor Greene Grilled Point-Blank Over Her 'Very Racist' Statue Of Liberty Post
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) was challenged on Thursday to explain why she posted an image of the Statue of Liberty in a burqa following New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani's apparent victory in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary. The far-right lawmaker, who has a history of anti-Islam remarks, captioned the picture: 'This hits hard.' The post was widely condemned as Islamophobic and interpreted as a dig at Mamdani, who will become New York City's first Muslim mayor if elected in November. Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) blasted the post as 'very racist' and 'so outside the mainstream.' Mamdani has been the subject of multiple Islamophobic attacks from the right since his win. On The Hill's 'Rising' show, co-host Niall Stanage brought up the image of the Statue of Liberty (which, ironically, was initially conceived of as being a Muslim woman in traditional Islamic dress) with Greene and asked: 'What did you mean by that?' Greene responded: 'Well, I'm an American woman and I have all the freedoms in the world to never have to bow to a religion that would force me to cover my body up and only see my eyes and my fingertips and that is a major threat for all American women, and I think that's something that hits hard for all women.' When Stanage asked whether the post was a specific response to Mamdani's win, Greene appeared not to hear the question and said: 'Oh, a Muslim takeover or possibly Shariah law. That is a great threat to every single American woman, and I think that's something all women should never want or allow to happen in America.' Stanage pushed back, noting, 'It's up to the voters of New York City to elect whoever they wish to elect, whether that person is Muslim or Christian or Jewish or anything else. So what is the evidence…' Greene interrupted: 'Well, of course voters have the right to elect that and I'll maintain my right to say that I think Shariah law and women being forced to wear burqas is the greatest threat to our freedoms as American women.' When asked directly whether she opposes Muslims holding elected office, Greene avoided answering and said instead: 'I am 100% opposed to Shariah law in America. 100% unapologetically opposed to Shariah law in America.' Watch the exchange here: The Statue Of Liberty Was Initially Designed To Be A Muslim Woman Dem Sen. Patty Murray Trolls Trump With Hilariously Brutal Taste Of His Own Medicine Karoline Leavitt's 'Have To Save Face' Jab Instantly Backfires Mary Trump Exposes Uncle's 'Grotesque Exploitation' Of Religion With Some Family History
Int'l Business Times
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Florida Republican Ridiculed for 'Islamophobic' Argument That New Yorkers Would Be Scared 'Living With a Muslim Mayor': 'Disgusting'
A Florida Republican is being ridiculed online for suggesting that New York residents would be scared "living with a Muslim mayor" following the results of the Democratic New York City mayoral primary. Angie Wong, a political commentator and Republican committee member from Miami, suggested that people were "concerned about their safety" if Democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani, who won the Democratic primary on Tuesday, were to win the mayoral race later this year. "I'm hearing from various people here in New York and they're concerned about their safety living here with a Muslim mayor," Wong said during a discussion on CNN Thursday night. Wong's declaration was quickly met with pushback from several of the other panelists. "The idea that because he is Muslim, he is a threat to Jewish New Yorkers — is that really what you're saying?" CNN anchor Abby Phillip asked. "No, it's because of his anti-Israel rhetoric he's been putting out," Wong insisted. "But what does that have to do with him being Muslim?" Phillip pushed. "You can go after his policies but what does that have to do with his faith?" "It's not about his faith, it's because he is perpetuating this anti-Israeli rhetoric and New Yorkers are hearing it and they're scared. That's what I'm hearing back from friends," Wong said. Despite Wong's insistence that the assertion was based on what she had heard from locals, her declaration was met with backlash online, with several users accusing her of being "Islamophobic." "If it doesn't matter he's Muslim why'd you bring up his religion you bigots??" one user questioned . Another wrote , "This is Islamophobic. She said the quiet part out loud." "Not all people who are Muslim engage in criminal behavior. Good grief," one user lamented . One added , "People are just flat out disgusting." Mamdani, who is Muslim and Indian, beat former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who was favored to win, in the primary Tuesday. The Democratic socialist's success was met with heavy backlash from Republicans and MAGA supporters. The 33-year-old will go on to face off against Cuomo again in November, who reportedly plans to continue running as an independent, as well as current Mayor Eric Adams, who is also running as an independent, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and independent candidate Jim Walden. Originally published on Latin Times
India Today
19 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Calls for Zohran Mamdani's deportation; Trump's border czar says 'game on'
Republicans and affiliated groups are seeking a federal investigation into the citizenship status of Zohran Mamdani, who won the Democratic primary for the New York City's mayoral post, with some calling for his denaturalisation and deportation. Mamdani, son of Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair, found himself at the centre of a political firestorm following his primary win ahead of the November New York City's mayoral amid calls for probe and deportation US President Donald Trump's border czar, Tom Homan issued a warning to Zohran Mamdani saying that immigration enforcement will "double down and triple down on sanctuary cities". Homan added that if immigration enforcement officials can't arrest people in jail, they would "find them" in neighborhoods or work sites, adding, "so game on, we're coming".Mamdani, who has been an assembly member since 2021, became an American citizen in 2018 shortly after graduating from college. He has also faced Islamophobic attacks due to his political views and stance on US foreign policy. Tennessee Republican Congressman, Andy Ogles, has urged the federal government to revoke the US citizenship of New York City mayoral candidate Mamdani and initiate deportation proceedings against shared images of a letter he wrote to US Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging the Department of Justice to examine whether Mamdani's US citizenship should be revoked on the basis that he may have obtained it through "wilful misrepresentation or concealment of material support for terrorism".advertisementIn response to the Democratic primary poll outcome, the New York Young Republican Club, a Manhattan-based GOP group for members aged 18 to 40, issued a "call to action" on X. The group was founded in 1911."The radical Zohran Mamdani cannot be allowed to destroy our beloved city of New York," the club wrote in the post, tagging the White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Donald Trump's Border Czar Tom comes days after the American President called Mamdani a "100% Communist Lunatic".The group urged President Donald Trump to invoke the Red Scare-era Communist Control Act to revoke Mamdani's citizenship and "promptly deport him".The Communist Control Act of 1954 is a Cold War-era law passed at the height of anti-communist hysteria. The law, which technically remains on the books, declared the Communist Party illegal and allowed for the stripping of rights of individuals deemed part of a communist club also called on White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Trump Border Czar Tom Homan to take action against the 33-year-old Ugandan-American Democratic Mamdani's victory, Miller claimed New York City is the "clearest warning yet of what happens to a society when it fails to control migration," The Independent entire Democrat party is lining up behind the diehard socialist who wants to end all immigration enforcement and abolish the prison system entirely," he WILL BE ANOTHER 9/11 IN NYC: FAR-RIGHT COMMENTATORFar-right commentator and political operative Laura Loomer, in a post on X, said that New York City would face "another 9/11" if Zohran Mamdani were to become York City Council Member Vickie Paladino described Mamdani as a "known jihadist terrorist" and "communist" in a radio interview, calling for his deportation despite his American citizenship, according to a report in The York Representative Elise Stefanik, Trump's one-time pick for UN ambassador, sent fundraising emails branding Mamdani a "Hamas terrorist sympathiser" before the race was even backlash intensified in conservative circles, with the American President's son, Donald Trump Jr reposting a message on social post read, "I'm old enough to remember when New Yorkers endured 9/11 instead of voting for it", adding his own comment: "New York City has fallen".'NYC NOT AN AMERICAN CITY ANYMORE'Marjorie Taylor Greene, US Representative for Georgia's 14th congressional district since 2021, also joined in by sharing an AI-generated image of the Statue of Liberty covered in a burqa. The image depicts a digitally modified version of the Statue of Liberty, veiled in a black commentator Matt Walsh decried New York's immigrant population, lamenting how New York isn't "an American city any more" because of its population being 40% backlash was sparked by Mamdani's promises, his views on Israel, and support for the Palestinian whose father is Ugandan academic Mahmood Mamdani, is married to Rama Duwaji, a Syrian-American Tuesday's heated Democratic primary election event, New York City Mayor Eric Adams slammed the 33-year-old, calling him a "snake oil salesman" following Mamdani's victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who was seeking a political POLITICAL JOURNEY SO FARSince 2021, Mamdani has been representing Astoria, Queens, in the New York State victory in the mayoral primary indicates that his ideas are becoming more popular in the campaign has plans, like establishing city-run grocery stores, freezing rent increases in rent-stabilised housing, and providing free city buses. These ideas would be funded by a $10 billion tax increase on businesses and wealthy residents, Mamdani has been vocal about international issues, especially regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict. His firm pro-Palestinian position has drawn sharp criticism from pro-Israel supporters view him as a bold and much-needed progressive voice for New York was born in Kampala, Uganda, to parents with roots in India. He moved to New York along with his family at the age of seven in 1998 and became an American citizen in 2018 shortly after graduating from mother, Mira Nair, is an award-winning filmmaker who has made cult films such as Monsoon Wedding, The Namesake, and Mississippi Masala. His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is an anthropology professor at Columbia University.- EndsMust Watch
South Wales Argus
20 hours ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Monmouthshire mosque lease for former library confirmed
Monmouthshire County Council's cabinet agreed to grant a 30-year lease for the empty Abergavenny Library to the Monmouthshire Muslim Community Association in May but three backbench councillors forced a review using the council's call in process. Just two days before a scrutiny committee considered that request the grade II listed building, last used as a pupil referral unit after the library closed and transferred to the to the town hall in 2015, was targeted by Islamophobic vandalism. The decision had to come back to the Labour-led cabinet's Wednesday, June 25 meeting where leader Mary Ann Brocklesby reminded those present the call in 'asked us to review the decision made and does not have the authority to overturn the decision.' Councillor Ben Callard, who is responsible for resources including leases, addressed the seven points made by the scrutiny committee which sent the decision back to the cabinet, on the chair's casting vote, but said he wasn't convinced the tender process should be run again as the committee wanted. A photograph showing the anti-Muslim vandalism of the former Abergavenny Library. The Llanfoist and Govilon member said: 'I've reflected on them but at the moment I'm not minded to change the original decision. I think it was the correct one and Monmouthshire Muslim Community Association will be good tenants for this property.' Of those reasons Cllr Callard said the council hadn't set a target rent for the building, and doing so could have 'depressed' the price, and defended the four week timeframe for the tender process. He said a number of 'competitive' bids were received and he didn't agree the council should have got an independent survey of the building as the authority has the capacity to do so itself. He also dismissed the suggestion, he said made by a Conservative councillor, the library built and funded by Scottish-American philanthropists Andrew Carnegie should be sold. He said: 'I don't think it should be disposed of, it should remain in the council's ownership'. Conservative opposition leader Cllr Richard John claimed taxpayers would be 'subsidising' the mosque at the agreed rent of £500 a month, or £6,000 a year. He said a previous council budget paper suggested it could produce a rental of between £20-25,000 a year. Cllr Callard said: 'The tax payers of Monmouthshire will not be subsidising it. It was put out for a competitive tender and it returned the figures proposed by the Monmouthshire Muslim Community Association, which was the highest submission.' From left, Cllrs Ben Callard, Mary Ann Brocklesby and Richard John. (Image: Monmouthshire County Council.) He added the lease is on a 'full repair' basis which will pass all maintenance responsibilities to the tenants and he described the building as having 'significant liabilities'. The lease was also described as a commercial deal and Cllr Callard said the Muslim association isn't benefiting from a rental agreement, which is a subsidy, that other community groups leasing council buildings enjoy. Cllr Callard also acknowledged it was an 'ambition' of the cabinet the local Muslim community should have a mosque but denied, under questioning from Cllr John, there was any 'done deal'. He also said independent councillor Simon Howarth was wrong to say the council had 'put' the mosque in the library as it offered the building through a tender process open to all. Concerns from residents over car parking in the area were also acknowledged at the meeting and Cllr Callard said the association has committed to using the three nearby public car parks. All seven members of the cabinet confirmed their support for the original decision when asked by Cllr Brocklesby who said the unanimous decision means the lease will be offered to the Monmouthshire Muslim Community Association. During the meeting Cllr Callard also acknowledged questioning over how the council should subject potential leases to scrutiny before decisions are made which he said requires further thought.
