• Source:JND
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A digitally altered image of the Statue of Liberty wearing a black burqa has gone viral following the Democratic primary win of Zohran Mamdani in New York City. Mamdani, a democratic socialist and the son of filmmaker Mira Nair, secured 43.5 per cent of first-choice votes under the city’s ranked-choice voting system. His win prompted an outpouring of Islamophobic backlash, especially from far-right circles in the US.

Mamdani, who is of Gujarati Muslim ancestry, has been the target of Islamophobic attacks throughout his political career. The backlash intensified after his primary victory, with conservative figures and MAGA supporters spreading inflammatory messages online. Among them was Marjorie Taylor Greene, who amplified the viral image of a burqa-clad Statue of Liberty, implying that Mamdani’s win symbolised the end of American values.

Donald Trump Jr added fuel to the fire, posting, “New York City has fallen,” in response to a tweet referencing the 9/11 attacks and comparing them unfavourably to Mamdani’s electoral success. Other right-wing figures echoed similar sentiments, accusing New Yorkers of voting for their own “destruction.”

History Behind Statue’s Original Design

Critics failed to acknowledge the statue’s little-known origins. The original concept for the Statue of Liberty by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi was inspired by a veiled Egyptian woman. His proposal, titled Egypt Carrying the Light to Asia, envisioned a towering statue of a Muslim woman as a symbol of progress and enlightenment. When the Egyptian government declined the project, Bartholdi adapted the design into the classical Roman-style goddess known today as the Statue of Liberty.

Barry Moreno, a historian of the Statue of Liberty, noted that Bartholdi’s original vision took the form of a veiled peasant woman and reflected Egypt’s aspirations for modernity in the 19th century. Thus, the viral image, though shared in mockery, ironically echoes the original intent behind the statue’s design.

Rhetoric Intensifies On Social Media

MAGA supporters and far-right users quickly filled social media with apocalyptic predictions for New York. Some posts read, “NYC in 2025: Elects Muslim jihadist! NYC in 2040: Obey Sharia Law or leave!” Others warned of doom for the city, claiming that Mamdani’s win represented a step toward Islamic law in America.

Despite the vitriol, Mamdani remains focused on progressive issues, with official results of the primary expected in early July. Meanwhile, the viral image has sparked a wider conversation about religious identity, xenophobia, and the often-forgotten roots of one of America’s most iconic symbols.