Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York, faced a backlash on social media after his office shared a post that World Hijab Day recognizes and honors “the faith, identity and pride of Muslim women and girls around the world.” A social media user reacted strongly to the post and said he felt compelled to speak out, arguing that removing women’s faces from the poster and celebrating the veil was condoning the imprisonment of women.
“February 1st is #WorldHijabDay! Today we celebrate the faith, identity and pride of Muslim women and girls who choose to wear the hijab, a powerful symbol of devotion and celebration of Muslim heritage,” the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs said on X.
The Iranian-American journalist accused Mamdani of poor judgment and insensitivity, saying she was deeply saddened to see World Hijab Day being celebrated while women in Iran were, she said, imprisoned, injured and killed for rejecting the hijab and the ideology behind it.
She criticized him for not showing public compassion, solidarity or condemnation of the violence taking place there, and said his silence during the celebration was disturbing. She said the lack of response was shameful and argued that it was not connecting with women but with those who oppress them.
Other reactions
One social media user said: “Sorry, I can’t keep quiet. You must really hate women to erase their faces from a poster and celebrate their imprisonment under the veil. Pride is visible. It’s not hidden. The hijab is a man-made invention designed to control women and impose a form of apartheid. No happy world hijab day for life.”
Another responded: “Stop wrapping your oppressive ideology in pretty clothes and trying to sell it as empowerment.” “Why is @NYCMayor celebrating oppressive patriarchy, misogyny and the total subjugation of women?” asked a third.
A fourth criticized the statement strongly, saying the hijab should not be portrayed as a symbol of devotion or empowerment. Instead, the commentator described it as an ideology they see as oppressive to women, arguing that it functions as a means of control rather than a voluntary expression of virtue.
