New York's first Muslim mayor takes oath on Quran
Mamdani taking the oath. Photo: nytimes
On January 1, 2026, 34-year-old Democrat Zohran Mamdani took office as the mayor of New York City, becoming the first Muslim, the first representative of South Asia, and the first native of Africa to hold this position. The ceremony took place shortly after midnight at a closed subway station under the city hall building.
Mamdani placed his hand on two Qurans during the subway ceremony and on another one during the public ceremony at the city hall. The two copies belonged to his grandfather and grandmother, and the third is a late 18th to early 19th-century manuscript from the Schomburg Center's collection of the New York Public Library.
According to the library's curator, Hiba Abid, this Quran symbolizes the diversity and scale of the city's Muslim community. In his election campaign, Mamdani promised to create a universal childcare system, freeze rent, and make buses free.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that for the first time, a Muslim was elected as the mayor of New York City in the USA.
Read also
Turkey begins installing protective covering over the dome of Hagia Sophia
A temporary covering will be installed to preserve the structures, mosaics, and ensure workers' safety during the cathedral's restoration.
Sviatohirsk Lavra celebrates its principal shrine
On July 29–30, the Holy Dormition Lavra celebrated the feast of the wonderworking Sviatohirsk Icon of the Mother of God.
Court extends restrictive measure for Met. Theodosiy until late September
The hierarch’s defense dismissed the prosecutors’ claims as empty formalism, stressing that there was no evidence of any violations.
Demydivka authorities ban UOC religious procession
The settlement council's executive committee cited martial law, the threat of missile strikes, and the risk of religious tensions.
Kharkiv authorities strip UOC eparchy of land in Sobornyi Square
City council members unilaterally terminated the lease for land surrounding the eparchial administration building, citing plans to reconstruct Sobornyi Square.
Bulgarian clergy condemn archimandrite who concelebrated with OCU
The clergy of the Sofia Eparchy backed Patriarch Daniel and called on the Church court to punish the abbot for insulting the Church and concelebrating with the OCU.