New York’s Incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani to Take Oath on Quran, Marking Historic First

New York, Jan 2025 : Incoming New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will take his oath of office on a centuries-old Quran, making him the first mayor in the city’s history to be sworn in using Islam’s holy text, local media reported. The historic oath-taking underscores a series of unprecedented milestones as Mamdani, 34, prepares to assume office shortly after midnight.

Mamdani, a Democrat, will also become the city’s first Muslim, the first South Asian, and the first African-born individual to hold the top executive position. His team has planned two swearing-in ceremonies, following a long-standing New York tradition in which a new Mayor’s term officially begins at the start of the New Year.

The first ceremony will be held just after midnight in a private setting at the former City Hall subway station in Manhattan, attended by close family members. This historic station, one of the original stops on New York City’s earliest underground transit line, has been closed since 1945 and is rarely opened to the public. The choice of this site reflects Mamdani’s stated commitment to honoring the working people who maintain the city’s daily functions.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, a political ally of Mamdani and a notable critic of former President Donald Trump, will administer the midnight oath. The symbolic location highlights Mamdani’s focus on public infrastructure, echoing a period in the city’s history when investments were made to improve daily life—a vision he plans to continue in his administration.

Later in the day, Mamdani will take the oath again during a public ceremony on the steps of City Hall at 1 p.m. local time. This second, larger ceremony will be administered by Senator Bernie Sanders, one of Mamdani’s political inspirations. Opening remarks will be delivered by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a close ally of the mayor-elect.

The dual-inauguration tradition has been followed by previous mayors, including outgoing Mayor Eric Adams and former Mayor Bill de Blasio, who first took a private oath shortly after midnight and later presided over a larger public ceremony. Mamdani’s historic swearing-in at the shuttered subway station adds a unique dimension to this tradition, symbolizing both a respect for the city’s past and a commitment to its future.

With these milestones, Mamdani’s inauguration represents a historic moment for New York, combining cultural firsts, public symbolism, and a vision for inclusive leadership as the city steps into 2026.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)