New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani criticised for glorifying Hijab

(Hijab – A head and neck covering worn by Muslim women)

New York (US) – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has come under sharp criticism after his office shared social media posts praising hijab on 1 February, marking ‘World Hijab Day.’ Human rights activists  objected strongly and criticised Mamdani.

February 1st is #WorldHijabDay! Today, we celebrate the faith, identity, & pride of Muslim women & girls around the word who choose to wear the hijab, a powerful symbol of devotion & celebration of Muslim heritage. pic.twitter.com/66YMVosNfT

— NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (@NYCImmigrants) February 2, 2026

In a post shared on ‘X’, the mayor’s office stated, “The hijab is a powerful symbol of devotion and Muslim heritage. Muslim women and girls across the world choose to wear hijab. World Hijab Day is a celebration of their faith, identity, and pride.”

Criticism from Activists and Analysts

1. Masih Alinejad, Iranian American journalist and human rights activist, directly addressed the mayor, saying that “this kind of message on social platform, from a mayor who resides in New York, is distressing to me. Given the realities faced by women in Iran, the message ignores the oppression linked to Iran’s compulsory hijab laws.”

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing a massive backlash for glorifying the Hijab. 🚨

As women globally risk their lives to protest forced veiling, Mamdani, the city's first Muslim mayor and a self-titled 'Communist' is being called out for romanticizing the garment.

Critics say… pic.twitter.com/5DzRdr5xul

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) February 6, 2026

2. Several critics highlighted that in Iran, women who refuse to wear hijab reportedly face arrest, assault, and in some instances, death. In this context, describing the hijab as a symbol of pride and celebration was insensitive and dismissive of their suffering.

3. Timur Kuran, a Turkish-origin American economist and political analyst, remarked that in countries such as Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, many Muslims view the hijab not as their pride in the faith but as a symbol of oppression.

Editorial Perspective

Mamdani calls himself as a Communist, yet, instead of supporting anti-hijab movement around the world, he glorifies hijab. This indicates pro-Muslim attitude of the Communist. Communist and religious fanatics like Mamdani, can be dangerous to the world.