NEW YORK (Dunya News) - New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has come under sharp criticism following a social media post marking World Hijab Day, in which the hijab was described as a symbol of faith, identity and pride.
The post, shared by the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Affairs, praised Muslim women and girls around the world who choose to wear the hijab, calling it a powerful expression of devotion and a representation of Muslim heritage.
However, the message drew strong backlash in the context of ongoing protests in Iran against mandatory hijab laws. Critics argued that the post ignored the harsh realities faced by women in Iran, where refusing to wear the hijab has reportedly led to arrests, violence and, in some cases, death.
Iranian-American journalist and activist Masih Alinejad strongly condemned the post, directly addressing Mayor Mamdani in a public response. She questioned the timing of the message and said it was painful to see such celebrations while women in Iran were being imprisoned, shot and killed for rejecting compulsory hijab and the ideology behind it.
Alinejad accused the mayor of standing “with our jailers” and described the post as shameful silence in the face of Iran’s crackdown on women.
French author and human rights activist Bernard-Henri Lévy also criticised the message, questioning both its timing and intent. He wrote that celebrating World Hijab Day was inappropriate when thousands of Iranian women were facing imprisonment, torture and death simply for not wearing the hijab.
Turkish-American economist and political scientist Timur Kuran similarly described the post as inappropriate on multiple grounds.
The criticism stands in contrast to Mayor Mamdani’s past remarks against Islamophobia. Last year, he spoke about his aunt feeling unsafe wearing a hijab after the September 11 attacks and avoiding public transport due to fear. He has also said he was advised to keep his religious beliefs private upon entering politics.