New York City mayor, Zohran Mamdani, speaks to the media following casting a vote in the New York City mayoral election, in a park in Astoria, Queens borough of New York City, U.S., November 4, 2025. REUTERS
New York’s newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani, failed to hold back his tears during a citizen meeting when a Pakistani woman engaged him in a heartfelt conversation.
34-year-old Mamdani is New York’s first Muslim mayor and the youngest mayor of the century. He took his oath on Tuesday at City Hall, placing his hand on the Holy Quran that belonged to his grandparents.
Read: Zohran Mamdani sworn in on the Holy Quran as New York’s first Muslim mayor
After taking office, Mamdani opened his doors to New Yorkers and met with 142 residents, according to international media. People came with their problems and suggestions about the city, and the mayor assured them their concerns would be addressed.
Among them was a Pakistani woman who started by saying her English wasn’t very good, so she’d written down her points. Introducing herself as Samina, she asked if the mayor could speak Urdu. Mamdani smiled and said that while he couldn’t read Urdu, he could speak it.
When he asked which city in Pakistan she was from, Samina said Lahore. Mamdani responded that Lahore is a beautiful city and that he’d visited it once. Samina congratulated him on his election and told him that at a time when people around the world are divided, he has created hope and softness in people’s hearts.
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She said beautiful buildings in New York were one thing, but stated that with Mamdani’s arrival, people’s hearts have changed. Samina stated that New Yorkers have more hope and happiness with Mamdani’s election as Mayor, saying that those higher-up and lower-down have the same faith in him.
“The honesty in your eyes cannot be hidden from anyone,” she told him. Her words created an emotional atmosphere, and tears welled up in Mamdani’s eyes.
