Zohran Mamdani Makes History as First NYC Mayor Sworn in on Quran

Incoming New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will take his oath of office on the Quran, marking a historic first for the city. Mamdani, a 34-year-old Democrat, will also be the first Muslim, South Asian, and African-born individual to hold the position. The ceremony, set to take place in a long-closed subway station beneath City Hall shortly after midnight, will use three Qurans from significant sources: two belonging to his grandparents and a third from the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Mamdani’s inauguration underscores the city’s diverse Muslim population and celebrates a series of historic milestones. While critics have emerged, Mamdani remains steadfast in his visibility as a Muslim leader, declaring, 'I will not change who I am.' Following the inauguration, the Schomburg Quran will go on public display at the New York Public Library.