nd decommissioned in 1945. The oath was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James in the presence of Mamdani’s family, ahead of a larger public ceremony scheduled for Thursday afternoon and set to be led by Senator Bernie Sanders. According to multiple US media outlets, the Qurans used during the ceremony included one that belonged to Mamdani’s grandfather, as well as another historically significant copy once owned by Black writer and historian Arturo Schomburg. The latter was lent by the New York Public Library. At 34, Mamdani is also the first African-born individual to serve as New York City mayor. He was born in Uganda to Indian immigrant parents. Mamdani won the mayoral race in the November 4 elections, defeating former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa in what observers described as a historic victory for the Democratic Party’s progressive wing. A self-described democratic socialist, Mamdani ran a campaign centered on affordability and expanded social services. His platform included pledges for free public buses, universal childcare, city-run grocery stores, expanded rent-stabilized housing, and raising the minimum wage to $30 per hour by 2030. Most of Mamdani’s predecessors were sworn in using a Bible. However, the oath to uphold the federal, state, and city constitutions does not legally require the use of any religious text. Throughout his campaign, Mamdani was outspoken about his Muslim faith. He frequently visited mosques across New York City’s five boroughs, building a base of support that included many first-time South Asian and Muslim voters. While it remains unclear how Schomburg, a Black Puerto Rican historian whose collection documented the global contributions of people of African descent, came into possession of the Quran used during the ceremony, scholars believe it reflected his interest in the historical relationship between Islam and Black cultures in the United States and Africa. Unlike ornate religious manuscripts associated with royalty or elites, the Quran used by Mamdani is modest in design. It features a deep red binding with a simple floral medallion and is written in black and red ink. The plain, readable script suggests it was produced for everyday use rather than ceremonial display. Because the manuscript is undated and unsigned, scholars have relied on its binding and script style to estimate its origins, placing its production in the late 18th or early 19th century during the Ottoman period, in a region that includes present-day Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan. Mamdani’s rapid political rise has also drawn backlash. His candidacy and election were accompanied by a surge in Islamophobic rhetoric, amplified by national attention on the race. In an emotional speech delivered days before the election, Mamdani said the hostility had only strengthened his resolve to be open about his faith. “I will not change who I am, how I eat, or the faith that I’m proud to call my own,” he said. “I will no longer look for myself in the shadows. I will find myself in the light.” Conservative Backlash The decision to use a Quran during the oath ceremony prompted criticism from some conservative figures. US Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama wrote on social media, “The enemy is inside the gates,” in response to a news article about Mamdani’s inauguration. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a civil rights organization, has previously designated Tuberville as an anti-Muslim extremist based on past statements. Such controversy is not unprecedented. In 2006, Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to the US Congress, faced similar condemnation after choosing to use a Quran for his ceremonial oath. While the Bible is commonly used during oath-taking ceremonies in the United States, there is no legal requirement for public officials to swear on any specific religious text. Former US President Theodore Roosevelt did not use a Bible during his oath of office, and President Donald Trump did not place his hand on the Bible during his inauguration.