Zohran Mamdani was moved to tears as he recounted his aunt’s trepidation about wearing a Muslim hijab in public after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

At 33, Mamdani, a socialist from New York City and a frontrunner in the mayoral race, delivered a heartfelt speech outside a Bronx mosque on Friday, addressing the city’s Muslim community.

Surrounded by religious leaders, Mamdani spoke passionately about the enduring ‘indignities’ faced by Muslims in the city, his voice breaking with emotion.

“I want to honor the memory of my aunt, who stopped taking the subway after September 11th because wearing her hijab made her feel unsafe,” he shared with the crowd.

Mamdani, originally from Uganda and a U.S. citizen since 2018, also highlighted the contributions of working-class Muslims who serve New York City in various roles.

“Every Muslim dreams of being treated like any other New Yorker. Yet, we’ve been told to expect less and to be content with whatever scraps we receive. It’s time for a change!” he declared fervently.

Mamdani was speaking out against statements made in recent days by opponents Curtis Sliwa, Andrew Cuomo and current mayor Eric Adams.  

He recounted how, when he first entered politics, an uncle gently suggested he keep his faith to himself.

Zohran Mamdani was brought to tears speaking about his aunt’s fear of wearing the Muslim hijab in public following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks

Mamdani was speaking out against statements made in recent days by opponents Curtis Sliwa, Andrew Cuomo (pictured) and current mayor Eric Adams

‘These are lessons that so many Muslim New Yorkers have been taught,’ Mamdani said. 

‘And over these last few days, these lessons have become the closing messages of Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa and Eric Adams.’

At a news conference later Friday, Cuomo accused Mamdani of ‘playing the victim’ for political purposes and denied that Islamophobia existed on a wide scale in New York. 

‘Zohran is an actor and his entire campaign has been theatrics. Literally, his mother is a noted film director. He was a rapper, actor and he has produced great videos but it is all an act,’ Cuomo said.

‘Today he’s playing the victim but in reality he is the offender.’ 

Cuomo told reporters that Mamdani’s criticism of Israel had made Jewish people afraid to leave their homes.

He also rejected Mamdani’s claim that Muslim New Yorkers have been made to feel uncomfortable in their own city.

‘Don’t tell me New Yorkers are Islamophobic. They’re not,’ Cuomo said.

At a news conference later Friday, Cuomo accused Mamdani of ‘playing the victim’ for political purposes and denied that Islamophobia existed on a wide scale in New York

Mamdani criticized Republican Curtis Sliwa for saying he supports ‘global jihad’ 

‘What he is doing is the oldest, dirtiest political trick in the book: divide people,’ Cuomo said.

Throughout the race, Mamdani, a democratic socialist, has been criticized by Cuomo and others over his criticism of Israel’s government which he had accused of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. 

But the tone of those attacks have amped up in recent days, drawing allegations from some Democrats that Cuomo’s campaign is leaning into Islamophobia in the final stretch of the campaign.

Appearing on a conservative radio station Thursday, Cuomo appeared to laugh along at host Sid Rosenberg’s suggestion that Mamdani would ‘be cheering’ another 9/11 attack. 

‘That’s another problem,’ Cuomo replied.

A Cuomo social media account posted, then removed, a video depicting Mamdani eating rice with his hands and describing his supporters as criminals. 

A campaign spokesperson said the video was posted in error.

At an event endorsing the former governor, Mayor Eric Adams invoked the possibility of terrorist attacks in New York City, seeming to suggest — without explanation — they would be more likely under a Mamdani administration.

At an event endorsing the former governor, Mayor Eric Adams invoked the possibility of terrorist attacks in New York City, seeming to suggest — without explanation — they would be more likely under a Mamdani administration

‘New York can’t be Europe. I don’t know what is wrong with people,’ Adams said, standing alongside Cuomo. ‘You see what’s playing out in other countries because of Islamic extremism.’

At a debate earlier this week, Sliwa, the Republican candidate, falsely smeared Mamdani as a supporter of ‘global jihad.’

Asked about Rosenberg’s comments, Cuomo said he ‘didn’t take the remarks seriously at the time.’

‘Of course I think it’s an offensive comment. But it did not come out of my mouth,’ he added.

Cuomo has also lambasted Mamdani for a smiling photo alongside Siraj Wahhaj, a Brooklyn imam who the Democratic frontrunner called ‘one of the nation’s foremost Muslim leaders.’

Wahhaj was listed as an ‘unindicted co-conspirator’ in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. He was never charged with any wrongdoing.

‘When people tell you who they are, you should believe them – and Zohran, wipe that smile off your face,’ Cuomo told The New York Post.

Wahhaj had endorsed Mamdani in the Democratic primary.

Zohran Mamdani was ripped for eating out at the Omen Azen restaurant in Manhattan

Cuomo slammed Mamdani (center) for posting a photo with Muslim cleric Siraj Wahhaj (right) who was listed as an ‘unindicted co-conspirator’ in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing

Mamdani pointed out that Wahhaj had also previously met with Michael Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio, as well as campaigned alongside Eric Adams.

The imam was also the first Muslim to give an opening prayer for the US House of Representatives.

‘The only time it became an issue of national attention was when I met with him,’ Mamdani said. ‘And that’s because of the fact of my faith and because I’m on the precipice of winning this election.’

Mamdani said Thursday that Cuomo’s remarks showcased how bigotry and racism were problems in the Democratic Party.

He said: ‘This is disgusting. This is Andrew Cuomo’s final moments in public life and he’s choosing to spend them making racist attacks on the person who’d be the first Muslim to lead this city.’

In his speech Friday, Mamdani said he was aiming his remarks not at political opponents but at his fellow Muslim New Yorkers.

To that end, Mamdani said he would further embrace his Muslim identity, a decision he said he consciously avoided at the start of his campaign.

‘I thought that if I behaved well enough, or bit my tongue enough in the face of racist, baseless attacks, all while returning back to my central message, it would allow me to be more than just my faith,’ Mamdani said. 

‘I was wrong. No amount of redirection is ever enough.’

He continued: ‘I will not change who I am, how I eat, or the faith that I’m proud to call my own. But there is one thing that I will change. I will no longer look for myself in the shadows. I will find myself in the light.’

Mamdani, who won the primary in stunning fashion, has faced skepticism from some in the Democratic establishment, particularly over his criticism of Israel. 

On Friday, Mamdani earned the endorsement of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.