02.01.2026 12:52
New York's first elected Muslim Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, officially took office during a public ceremony held on the first day of the year. Thousands of New Yorkers gathered on the steps of the city hall on Broadway Avenue to watch Mamdani, despite the cold weather. During the ceremony, the temperature dropped to minus 13 degrees.
The youngest, first Muslim and socialist mayor of New York, 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani, officially began his duties by taking the oath for the second time at a ceremony held at New York City Hall. Achieving a historic success, Mamdani was joined by U.S. Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders, who supported him during the election process, as he took office.
About 40,000 New Yorkers gathered on the steps of City Hall on Broadway, despite the cold weather, to watch Mamdani. During the ceremony, the temperature dropped to minus 13 degrees.
HE TOOK THE OATH ON THE QUR'AN FOR THE SECOND TIME
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, who supported the young mayor during the election process, came to the podium with Mamdani and was present at the ceremony. Mamdani took the oath by placing his hand on the Qur'an held by his wife, Rama Duwaji, officially starting his role as the Mayor of New York.
In his speech at the ceremony, Sanders stated, "When working people stand up, there is nothing we cannot achieve."
One of the strongest supporters of Mamdani during the election process, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, said in her speech at the ceremony, "We chose courage over fear in New York. We chose the prosperity of the majority over the spoils of the minority. Zohran Mamdani will be the first Muslim Mayor of this magnificent city." Cortez also emphasized that Mamdani is the first immigrant mayor in the last 50 years.
DIVERSITY AND PRAYERS WERE IN THE FOREFRONT
At the beginning of the ceremony, Khalid Latif, the imam of the New York City Islamic Center, was invited to the podium and prayed for Mamdani's success and for New Yorkers.
Starting his words with "O Allah, O Most Gracious, O Most Merciful," Latif prayed, "We thank you for the beautiful diversity of this city, where a people shaped by race and religion, culture and class differences live across continents and generations; teach us to see this diversity not as something to be directed or feared, but as a sacred trust, a collective heritage that expands our moral imagination and strengthens our common future."
Some priests and rabbis from other faiths were also invited to the stage, highlighting the richness of cultural and ethnic diversity at the ceremony.
MAMDANI EMPHASIZED COMMON VALUES
Finally, Zohran Mamdani expressed his gratitude to everyone who supported him, including former New York Mayor Eric Adams, who came to the ceremony.
Mamdani stated, "From today onwards, we will govern this city comprehensively and boldly. We may not always succeed, but we will never be accused of lacking the courage to try." The young mayor addressed all voters, whether they voted for him or not, saying, "It doesn't matter what you eat, how you pray, or where you come from; the words that define us the most are the two words we all share: New Yorkers."
34-year-old Mamdani, born in Uganda, became the youngest and first Muslim Mayor of the largest city in the U.S. in the unofficial results of the November 4 elections.
According to CBS News, more than 2 million people voted in the election, marking the highest turnout rate recorded since 1969.