Mayor Mamdani under fire in US for wife’s ‘pro-Palestinian’ work

New York City Mayor Zohrab Mamdani has found himself in political trouble over an old painting by his wife, Rama Duwaji, which is alleged to be linked to Palestinian writer Susan Abulhawa.

The Washington Free Beacon, a far-right outlet, first reported the news last week. It said the 28-year-old freelance painter Duwaji had created the painting for a collection of works by Abulhawa. The work was part of a collection of works by Gaza writers titled ‘Every Moment Is a Life’.

Abulhawa later clarified that the work was actually a short story by a displaced Gazan. The story, titled ‘A Trail of Soap’, tells the story of ordinary people in war-torn Gaza.

Mamdani said Duwaji got the job from a third party and never “met or communicated” with Abulhawa. Abulhawa later confirmed this claim.

The controversy revolves around some of Abulhawa’s old social media posts. Some say the posts are anti-Semitic. Abulhawa, however, denies the allegations. He says his words are an expression of pain from a Palestinian perspective.

Abulhawa has called the killings in Gaza a “Jewish supremacist massacre” on social media. In an article, he described the October 7, 2023 incident as a “shocking moment.”

Mamdani called Abulhawa’s comments “completely unacceptable” and “disgusting” at a press conference. “Our administration is firmly against all forms of bigotry,” he said.

However, Mamdani’s response has drawn criticism from some of his supporters. They say the mayor is reinforcing a damaging narrative that conflates pro-Palestinian support with anti-Semitism.

“Mamdani is foolish to apologize and explain. Nothing is ever enough for the Zionists. Keep your head up,” said activist Shael Ben-Efraim.

Abulhawa said he was not personally angry with Mamdani, but there are lessons to be learned. “You bowed your head to forces that want to slowly destroy you, your talented and beautiful wife. If you’re not careful, you never know when they’ll suck your soul out.”

Mamdani has already been the target of Islamophobia at various times. He has been repeatedly labeled an anti-Semite for calling Israel’s actions in Gaza “genocide.”

Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville, on the other hand, has repeatedly attacked Mamdani’s religious beliefs. He wrote on X, with a picture of the 9/11 attacks next to the picture of the iftar, "The enemy has now entered." Yet he has not faced any accountability for such Islamophobic attacks.