In a disturbing escalation of Islamophobic hate, Zahran Mamdani, a Muslim lawmaker in New York and candidate for the city’s mayoral office, has received multiple death threats, including warnings of car bombings and racial slurs, prompting authorities to launch a hate crime investigation.
According to the New York Post, an anonymous caller—whose identity remains unknown—left two threatening voicemails filled with racist abuse and violent threats, referring to Mamdani as a “terrorist” and unleashing a stream of profanity-laced, anti-Muslim rhetoric.
In one of the messages, the caller said:
“You filthy terrorist. You’re not welcome in New York, or America—nor your damned family. You all need to leave. Damn you.”
The threats escalated further with chilling remarks:
“Start your car and see what happens. Watch your house. Watch your family. Watch your back every damn second until you leave America. No one wants your terrorist ways here. And check your pager too, you damned terrorist.”
According to the New York Police Department, Mamdani’s Queens office has received four separate anti-Muslim voicemails since March, the latest of which was recorded this past Wednesday.
A spokesperson for Mamdani’s campaign confirmed the threats and said:
“Zahran doesn’t even own a car, but the repeated and violent language from this caller is deeply concerning. We are taking every precaution necessary.”
He added:
“While it is tragic, it’s not surprising—especially after millions have been spent on anti-Muslim, dehumanising political rhetoric aimed at sowing division and hate. There is no place for racism or violence in our political process.”
Mamdani, an American Muslim of Ugandan origin, is currently engaged in a fierce Democratic primary battle against former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
In a particularly extreme message dated June 11, the anonymous caller warned Mamdani:
“Go back to Uganda before someone puts a bullet in your head and wipes out your family. You don’t belong here. Stop spreading your anti-Jewish propaganda and get out of America.”
The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force confirmed that the calls were made from an untraceable number, and that the investigation remains ongoing, with no arrests reported as of yet.
This incident adds to growing concerns over the safety of Muslim public figures and the increasingly hostile political climate in the United States, where Islamophobia, racial hatred, and anti-immigrant narratives have been weaponised in both media and electoral campaigns.
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