Mamdani’s Supporters Respond to Cuomo’s Claims

Supporters of Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic candidate for mayor, were vocal about their confidence in him during a recent event addressing his stance on the decriminalization of sex work.

During a gathering at the Masjid Ansardine Islamic Centre in the Bronx, rival candidate Andrew Cuomo questioned Mamdani’s stance. He pointed to Mamdani’s past support for legalizing or decriminalizing prostitution. “If he supports legalizing prostitution, are you still supporting him?” Cuomo asked the crowd.

In response, attendees asserted that they didn’t believe Mamdani would endorse such measures. One supporter stated firmly, “As a Muslim brother, Zoran will never sponsor a bill that legalizes prostitution.” Mamdani’s faith seems to play a significant role in how his supporters perceive his positions.

Cuomo urged the audience to reconsider their impressions, asserting that they were misled. Sheikh Ibrahim Nias, present at the event, emphasized that prostitution is immoral and unacceptable in their community. “We will never, never support it. No matter what,” he declared.

Mamdani, a Muslim, aligns with more progressive views that seem to diverge from the beliefs of more conservative Islamic members. Cuomo challenged Mamdani’s agenda, labeling it as contradictory to traditional values and suggesting that it promotes anti-business and socialist philosophies that could legalize activities like prostitution and drug dealing.

In his remarks, Cuomo referenced biblical and Quranic texts to support his viewpoint against prostitution. He argued, “In Leviticus, I condemn prostitution. In the New Testament, St. Peter opposes addicts. In the Quran, prostitution is called Gina, and addicts are labeled Haram.”

Cuomo’s campaign, now running independently, has drawn attention to Mamdani’s previous statements regarding his support for laws related to occupational rights for sex workers. Mamdani has not emphasized his stance on legalizing prostitution in his current campaign, yet his opponents—Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams—have seized upon these past comments to challenge him.

There hasn’t been any immediate response from the Mamdani campaign regarding these claims. However, last month, Mamdani was clear about wanting to reflect the policies of former mayor Bill de Blasio concerning prostitution. “What I want to do is see how the previous administration dealt with this,” he explained, citing concerns over security under current administration practices.

De Blasio’s administration aimed to decriminalize prostitution, focusing on cracking down on human trafficking instead of targeting sex workers themselves. However, critics, including women’s organizations, have raised alarms that legalizing sex work could inadvertently boost sex trafficking levels, ultimately harming the overall quality of life in New York City.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has signaled a move away from prosecuting prostitution cases, advocating for community-centric services instead of punitive measures against sex workers.