Statue of Liberty in burqa appears in MAGA pics after Mamdani's win

MAGA supporters have sparked controversy by circulating edited images of the Statue of Liberty wearing a black burqa following Zohran Mamdani’s projected win in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary. Although the final vote count is pending, Mamdani holds a significant lead, prompting former New York governor Andrew Cuomo to concede defeat.

At just 33 years old, Mamdani is poised to become the city’s first Muslim mayor. His faith and background—he is a Gujarati Muslim born in Uganda—have made him the target of Islamophobic attacks online. Prominent far-right figure Marjorie Taylor Greene was among those who shared the altered images, fueling a wave of hate speech.

Additional posts surfaced featuring Mamdani in traditional kurta pajama attire, captioned “Never Forget,” an apparent reference to the 9/11 attacks—widely condemned as a deeply Islamophobic dog whistle. These posts align with ongoing hostility from MAGA circles, likely due to Mamdani’s outspoken criticism of Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, and his vocal support for Palestinian rights.

Symbolism of the Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty, long celebrated as a beacon of freedom and hope for immigrants, was gifted to the U.S. by France in 1886. Designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and engineered by Gustave Eiffel, the statue stands as a symbol of democracy in New York Harbor.

Interestingly, the Statue of Liberty was initially envisioned as a Muslim woman. According to the Smithsonian Magazine, Bartholdi’s original concept was of an Egyptian peasant woman, meant to represent industrial progress and modernity, inspired by the Colossus of Rhodes.