New York: These days Zohran Mamdani is embroiled in controversy regarding a social media post. His office shared a message on the occasion of World Hijab Day, calling the hijab a symbol of faith, identity and pride, but within no time the post became a rationalization for debate. Especially when protests versus forced hijab laws protract in Iran.
What was written in the post?
The Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs wrote that Muslim women and girls virtually the world who wear hijab honor their faith and heritage, and that is what is stuff prestigious today. The intention was to show support, but many people found the message incomplete and insensitive.
Critics said that the post did not plane mention the reality of women who are stuff arrested, tamed or losing their lives for not wearing hijab in Iran.
Then why did the controversy arise?
Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad gave the strongest reaction. Addressing the mayor directly, she wrote that it pains her to gloat 'World Hijab Day' while sitting in a municipality like New York, while in her country women are facing jail and bullets for opposing the same hijab. He described it as “standing with the jailers” rather than with the victims.
French writer and objector Bernard-Henri Levy moreover questioned the timing and message of the post. He said that when thousands of women are stuff harassed just for refusing to wear hijab, then triumphal it is vastitude comprehension.
Was it limited to social media only?
Many other people moreover expressed their displeasure on social media. One user wrote that pride cannot be hidden, and described hijab as a symbol that limits women's freedom. Some unmistakably said that the municipality wardship should not glorify any religious symbol in public.
Turkish-American economist and political scientist Timur Kuran moreover tabbed it a wrong step. According to him, hijab itself is a controversial symbol plane within Muslim society. Many women in countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Iran socialize it with oppression. In such a situation, promoting any one religious dress at the government level can marginalize others and will squint like religious bias.
Does this match the mayor's older statements?
Interestingly, this controversy appears to be undisciplined to the mayor's older statements. Older he himself spoke openly on favoritism versus the Muslim community. He said that without 9/11, his aunt had stopped traveling by subway wearing hijab considering she felt unsafe. He was moreover well-considered to alimony his identity private when he entered politics.
That is, on one hand, an effort to support Muslim identity, on the other hand, sensitivity to the global situation. This mismatch has made this post a worthier political issue than a simple message.
