By Anjali Sharma
NEW YORK – New York City’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani on Thursday was sworn into office who took his oath on a centuries-old Quran in a ceremony that marked the first Muslim mayor to do so, a historic event for the city.
Zohran Mamdani underscored a series of symbolic milestones.
Mamdani 34 became New York City’s 112th mayor and makes history as its first Muslim mayor, the first South Asian mayor, and the youngest person to hold the office in more than a century, according to media reports.
“This is truly the honour and the privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani said moments after taking the oath, as quoted by
Mamdani was sworn in shortly after midnight during a private ceremony held at the long-shuttered City Hall subway station beneath City Hall Park in Manhattan.
The location closed to the public since 1945, is one of the city’s original subway stops, dated back to 1904 and known for its tiled arches, stained-glass skylights and chandeliers.
Letitia James, New York State’s Attorney General, administered the oath whom Mamdani has previously described as a political inspiration.
Family members were present at the ceremony, including his wife, artist Rama Duwaji, and his parents — filmmaker Mira Nair and academic and professor Mahmood Mamdani.
Mamdani said the venue symbolized the importance of public transport to the city’s past and future, called it “a testament to the importance of public transit to the vitality, the health and the legacy of our city”.
The second, public swearing-in ceremony took place on the steps of City Hall later on Thursday afternoon, media reported.
The oath was administered by Senator Bernie Sanders, whom Mamdani has often cited as a political inspiration. The event was began at 1 pm local time.
