The Arab world is celebrating the historic election of Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s new mayor — and many Syrians have affectionately begun calling him “our brother-in-law.”
Mamdani, 34, is married to Rama Duwaji, a Texas-born illustrator and designer of Syrian descent who spent part of her childhood in Dubai. Her Syrian roots have sparked an outpouring of humor and pride across social media, with many Arabs jokingly claiming Mamdani as family.
Karam Nachar, editor-in-chief of the Syrian media outlet Al Jumhuriya, wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “The poor man thought he was marrying one Syrian woman! No, habibi Zohran, you belong to the entire nation now.”
Syrian scholar Abdel Karim Bakkar, who has over three million Facebook followers, expressed joy at Mamdani’s victory: “We’re proud that the new mayor of New York City is our brother-in-law — but even prouder that he stands with the poor, the working class, and the marginalized.”
Born in Uganda to Indian parents — acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair and scholar Mahmood Mamdani — Zohran Mamdani later lived in South Africa before moving to the United States, where he became a citizen in 2018. He will officially take office in January, becoming New York City’s first Muslim and socialist mayor.
Campaign with Heart and Humor
During his campaign, Mamdani charmed voters with humor and cultural connection. In a viral video filmed in fluent Levantine Arabic, he poured himself a glass of mint tea and joked, “I might look like your brother-in-law from Damascus.”
The video also showed him enjoying a slice of Palestinian knafeh — a beloved dessert of cheese and syrupy pastry — while promising to support small businesses and struggling families. Another clip captured him visiting a bodega, chatting with a cat named Egypt, and pledging rent freezes for shop owners — all in impressive Egyptian Arabic.
A Symbol of Hope
Mamdani’s election has stirred optimism throughout the Arab and Muslim world. Humanitarian worker Rami Kukhun from Nablus said, “His victory gives us a bit of hope. Maybe all the attention on Palestine and Gaza will lead to something positive for our people.”
In Iran, state media highlighted Mamdani’s Shiite background, while commentators across the Middle East praised his inclusive message and rise to leadership in one of the world’s most diverse cities.
As New York prepares for its new era under Mayor Mamdani, many in the Arab world are proudly cheering for the man they now call “our brother-in-law.”
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