KABUL: Zahran Mamdani, the new mayor of New York City, mentioned in his recent speech after his inauguration that a new narrative based on cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity will be created. Mamdani announced that the history of New York will also be written in Pashto, alongside other languages. In his speech following the inauguration, Mamdani referred to New York as the property of all those who live in the city. He emphasized that all residents, regardless of their language—including Pashto, Mandarin (the official language of China), and Yiddish (a traditional language of some Jews)—will play a role in crafting this new narrative. The Muslim mayor of New York also stressed the importance of religious diversity and the freedom to practice religious ceremonies, stating that residents “will pray in mosques, places of worship, churches, temples, and synagogues, with many not praying at all.” It should be noted that Zahran Mamdani is the first Muslim mayor of New York City, having been elected with a wide margin in the 2025 elections. He garnered significant support from his constituents for his campaign focused on rent control, free bus services, assistance for low-income families, and refugee protection. Mamdani took his oath of office on a Quran that was passed down to him from his grandfather, making him the first mayor to take his oath on the Quran.
