The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said the Islamophobic and xenophobic online attacks surrounding the New York City mayoral election, as documented in a new report released by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH), amounted to a “systemic and organized campaign of dehumanization.”
According to CSOH’s report, “Islamophobia and the New York City Mayoral Election” between June 24 and October 31, 2025, researchers were able to identify 35,522 original Islamophobic and xenophobic posts authored by 17,752 unique accounts on X, the app formerly known as Twitter. The report found that verified blue-badge users produced nearly half of all hate-related posts, which collectively reached an estimated 1.5 billion users.
SEE: Islamophobia and the New York City Mayoral Election
Most posts labeled mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, the first Muslim and Democratic Socialist to secure a major-party nomination in New York City, as a “terrorist” or “radical,” while others spread Islamization conspiracy theories, called for his deportation or denaturalization, or questioned his patriotism and loyalty. CSOH researchers noted that Islamophobic content surged by more than 450 percent in October compared to September, reflecting a “significant and sustained” increase in hate speech as Election Day approached.
In a statement, Afaf Nasher, Esq., CAIR-NY Executive Director, said:
“This report confirms what Muslim New Yorkers already know – Islamophobia is not an isolated problem but a systemic and organized campaign of dehumanization. When a Muslim candidate is vilified simply for his faith, it threatens the democratic values we all cherish. To protect our democracy, all Americans must reject political exclusion based on faith.”
CAIR-NY called on social media companies, particularly X, to adopt stronger safeguards against hate speech during elections. The group echoed CSOH’s recommendations for faster review of harmful content, fact-check propagation, and accountability for verified users who amplify bigotry.
“Digital hate translates into real-world harm,” Nasher added. “Online Islamophobia fuels fear, discrimination, and violence against Muslim communities. Tech platforms have a moral and civic responsibility to act decisively.”
CAIR-NY urged elected officials, journalists, and civic leaders to condemn anti-Muslim rhetoric and to promote inclusion and accurate representation of Muslim Americans in public life.
CAIR-NY’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-NY es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: Afaf Nasher, Esq., CAIR-NY Executive Director, CAIR-NY, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com; CAIR-NY Communications Team, comms@ny.cair.com