New York, NY – May 28, 2026 – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, participated in Eid al-Adha prayers at Macombs Dam Park in the Bronx on Wednesday, wearing a traditional Arsenal-themed thobe.
The 34-year-old mayor, born in Uganda to Indian parents, was sworn into office on January 1 after winning the 2025 election. He used the occasion to connect the holiday’s central theme — the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in obedience to God — with his administration’s policy priorities.
“Eid al-Adha reminds us of sacrifice, compassion, and service to our community,” Mamdani said during the event. “Just as Ibrahim showed ultimate devotion, we must commit to delivering affordable groceries, housing, and child care for every New Yorker who is struggling.”
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez attended the prayers alongside the mayor, wearing a red hijab. She echoed calls for unity across New York’s diverse communities.
“Today is about coming together — Muslims, neighbors, and New Yorkers of every background — to lift each other up,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
The event drew a festive atmosphere, with many supporters highlighting Mamdani’s youth, heritage, and well-known enthusiasm for soccer. His social media post about the Eid celebration quickly surpassed 115,000 likes, with commenters praising the visible representation of the city’s multicultural fabric.
“Proud to see our mayor embracing his faith and our city’s diversity,” one supporter wrote.
However, the public display of faith by city leadership has also drawn criticism. Some residents and commentators questioned the appropriateness of elected officials participating in religious ceremonies in an official capacity, especially 25 years after the September 11, 2001, attacks.
Others raised concerns about Ocasio-Cortez’s choice of attire, citing ongoing international debates over women’s rights in certain Muslim-majority countries and what they described as selective solidarity.
Mamdani’s office has not commented on the criticism, emphasizing that the mayor was participating as a member of the community during a major religious holiday.
Eid al-Adha, known as the “Festival of Sacrifice,” is one of the most important holidays in the Islamic calendar and is observed by millions of Muslims worldwide. In New York City, home to one of the largest Muslim populations in the United States, the holiday has grown into a significant cultural event.
