Fact check: Claims of extremism against Mamdani debunked

Following his sensational victory in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary this week, social media has been flooded with claims about Zohran Mamdani – the 33-year-old Democratic Cocialist who is now odds-on to become the 111th mayor of the most populated city in the United States. 

Mamdani campaigned heavily on issues around affordability in one of the most expensive cities in the world, promising free public transport and subsidized groceries funded by increased taxation on higher earners. 

But many social media reactions have focused on his personal profile as a Ugandan-born Muslim of Indian heritage who has been outspoken in his criticism of the Israeli government’s policies in the Middle East, leading to allegations of Islamist extremism and antisemitism. 

DW Fact check takes a look at two of the most viral claims made against him.

Claim: Mamdani is a "raging antisemite"

DW Fact check: False 

Various claims have been made that Mamdani is a die-hard antisemiteImage: @RJC/X

At its broadest, antisemitism is generally defined as hatred of and prejudice toward Jews. DW looked into claims of antisemitism and found the following information: Mamdani has worked with Jewish politicians, such as in 2018, when he served as campaign manager for Jewish politician Ross Barkan's bid for New York State Senate, and has been endorsed by others. 

Mamdani has spoken out against antisemitism on the campaign trail. In an interview with progressive Jewish US digital newspaper Forward he said "it would be absolutely incumbent on me to condemn" evidence of antisemitism. He has also stated on various occasions that there is "no room for antisemitism" in New York City, or the world. 

Mamdani does not, however, condemn the controversial term "globalize the intifada," a reference to civilian uprisings by Palestinians against Israel. While critics claim this is incitement to violence against Jews, Mamdani maintained in a podcast interview that it is an expression of a desire for equality. 

Complicating things, there are also various codified definitions of antisemitism, such as the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition or the Jerusalem Declaration, which vary, among other things, in how they relate criticism of Israel and Zionism to antisemitism. For instance, the IHRA includes "denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination" as a form of antisemitism while the Jerusalem definition allows for "opposing Zionism as a form of nationalism."

In a TV debate, Mamdani stated he "believes Israel has the right to exist ... as a state with equal rights" but did not explicitly recognize Israel as a specifically Jewish state. This could be considered antisemitism according to the IHRA definition but not the Jerusalem Declaration.

The case is similar when it comes to Mamdani's long-standing support of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, which advocates for the use of economic action against Israel to pressure it to change its policies towards Palestinians. While some individuals, organizations and countries, including Germany, define support for BDS as inherently antisemitic, others do not.

In short, while Mamdani's views in relation to Israel and the Middle East conflict are controversial for some, they cannot be conclusively defined as antisemitic due to the differences in perceptions of what defines antisemitism in relation to Israel.

Claim: Mamdani "wants Sharia law."

DW Fact check: False

Numerous social media users have falsely claimed Mamdani wants to institute sharia law should be he elected NYC mayorImage: X

As a practicing Shia Muslim, Mamdani has been targeted for his religious beliefs both during the campaign and following his primary victory.

Earlier this month, he called out an image allegedly circulated by supporters of rival Andrew Cuomo in which his appearance had been altered to give him a darker and fuller beard (see image below). "This is blatant Islamophobia," he said.

Meanwhile, one social media post that accrued over 50,000 views claimed that Mamdani wants to turn New York into a "Muslim paradise where jihadists are in charge" and that he "wants Sharia law to be the governing principle."

Now, while various Mamdani campaign ads have referenced aspects of Muslim culture and addressed the lack of representation of Muslims in NYC and the US, DW has not found any evidence that he has ever advocated for a theocracy according to Islamic law.

On the contrary: In remarks given at the Parkchester Islamic Center in the Bronx, a NYC neighborhood, he said: "I know what our community wants is what every community wants and deserves: safety, equality and respect." He added: "One of the clearest ways you win is at the ballot box."

His political campaign has focused primarily on affordability and inclusivity. For instance, Mamdani has promised to fund gender-affirming care for transgender individuals, make NYC a LGBTQIA+ sanctuary city and create an office of LGBTQIA+ affairs. Because there is no central Islamic authority, positions on same-sex relations and transgender identities can vary, but many countries that rely on sharia principles persecute, criminalize or socially ostracize non-heteronormative gender relations or identities.   

In 2024, Mamdani was an outspoken supporter of "Proposition 1" (formerly known as the New York Equal Rights Amendment), which prevented state lawmakers from enacting policies that discriminated based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes and reproductive healthcare.  

"There is one issue that we as lawmakers should have no power over: reproductive rights," wrote Mamdani, then an assemblyman for Astoria and Long Island City, in the local Daily Eagle newspaper in the New York City borough of Queens. 

Mamdani has criticized his opponents for playing on racial stereotypes and fears of him as a Muslim manImage: @ZohranKMamdani/X

Mamdani: Not Muslim enough? 

While some right-wing critics accuse him of being an Islamist extremist, Mamdani has also faced criticism from some New York Muslims who have accused him of not being Muslim enough, according to a report by The New York Times: Earlier this month, while speaking at a town hall event on corporate greed, Mamdani was reportedly interrupted by two protesters who took issue with his belief that Israel has the right to exist — a stance that they considered too soft and accused Mamdani of betraying his Muslim roots. 

"Mr. Mamdani faces a challenge even among some Muslims," reported The New York Times. "He is a democratic socialist, and some of his policies, like supporting legalized marijuana or LGBTQ rights, do not align with more conservative mosques' thinking."

In the wake of his primary victory, Zohran Mamdani has faced a wave of misinformation targeting his faith and political views. DW Fact check examined just two of many viral claims, and with the election approaching, such narratives are likely to persist—or even intensify.

Edited by: Rayna Breuer and Rachel Baig