Muslim New York: Artists and Thinkers Define a New Era for the City
A dynamic and burgeoning set of Muslim creatives and intellectuals is thriving in New York City, marking a significant shift in the urban landscape. This movement unfolds against the backdrop of Zohran Mamdani's rise to mayor, symbolising a rebuke of the Islamophobia that defined the post-9/11 era and reflecting the growing influence of the Palestinian rights movement. We explore the contributions of 18 Muslim New Yorkers who are helping to usher in this historic moment, from writers and strategists to artists and advocates.
How Muslim New Yorkers Are Changing the City's Cultural Landscape
The cultural fabric of New York is being rewoven by a diverse array of Muslim voices, each bringing unique perspectives and talents to the forefront. This transformation is not just about individual success but represents a collective push for greater visibility and representation in the city's artistic and intellectual spheres.
The Writers: Hala Alyan and Mohammed Mhwaish
Hala Alyan, a celebrated Palestinian-American writer and poet based in Brooklyn, delves into themes of exile and belonging in her work. At 39, she hosts the popular live performance series Kan Yama Kan, which fundraises for causes from Gaza to Sudan. Her recent memoir explores her family's history of displacement and her struggles with infertility. As a psychology professor at New York University, Alyan believes that art serves as a conduit for curiosity, offering audiences a much-needed emotional and narrative connection in today's world.
Mohammed R Mhawish, a 25-year-old writer from Gaza, now contributes to publications like The New Yorker. After surviving an airstrike that destroyed his home, he moved to the US, feeling a new sense of responsibility. Mhawish emphasises the importance of community in New York, noting that the recognition he receives adds urgency to his work, driving him to share stories from his homeland with a global audience.
The Strategists: Zara Rahim and Waleed Shahid
Zara Rahim, a first-generation Bangladeshi American, has worked on presidential campaigns for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. At 35, she served as a senior adviser to Zohran Mamdani, helping shape his authentic messaging strategy. Rahim joined the campaign due to her disappointment with the Democratic party's stance on Gaza, seeing Mamdani as a principled leader. His victory, she says, was a transformative moment, symbolising a break from the city's political past dominated by white male mayors.
Waleed Shahid has been instrumental in the progressive wing of the Democratic party, helping recruit Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and co-founding the Uncommitted Movement. He views Mamdani's election as a watershed moment for Palestine politics in the US, highlighting how issues once dismissed by the party are now central to voter concerns. Shahid now serves as deputy communications director of economic justice in Mamdani's administration.
The Connectors: Mohammed Iman Fayaz and Gehad Hadidi
Mohammed Iman Fayaz, a 35-year-old illustrator, co-founded the Brooklyn art collective Papi Juice to provide a safe space for queer people of colour. After a pilgrimage to Mecca, he found a new sense of peace in balancing his queer and Muslim identities. The collective's events have become cultural hubs, attracting figures like Mamdani and fostering community connections.
Gehad Hadidi, 42, runs Huda, a restaurant in East Williamsburg that serves as a convergence point for Muslim creatives. Named after a community centre from his childhood, Huda hosts cultural events and has become an integral part of the neighbourhood, offering more than just a dining experience but a place for storytelling and community engagement.
The Advocates: Mahmoud Khalil, Ramzi Kassem, and Aber Kawas
Mahmoud Khalil, a 31-year-old Palestinian activist, faced detention and deportation threats but continues to fight for his place in New York. Despite legal setbacks, he remains hopeful, determined to raise his son in a city that has shown him welcome in small, persistent ways.
Ramzi Kassem, now Mamdani's chief counsel, was a civil rights attorney who sued the NYPD for its surveillance of Muslims. He believes that the experiences of Muslim communities can lead the way in addressing broader issues of discrimination and injustice in the US.
Aber Kawas, a 33-year-old Palestinian-American community organiser, is running for state assembly in Queens. Inspired by Mamdani's focus on dignity for the working-class, she aims to centre marginalised voices in her political work, drawing from her own experiences with deportation and surveillance.
The Artists: Sarah Elawad, Dean Majd, and Laylah Amatullah Barrayn
Sarah Elawad, a 29-year-old British-Sudanese artist, creates maximalist designs inspired by low-fi memes. She designed campaign visuals for Mamdani and has installations at New York's Africa Centre. Elawad feels a unique creative rush in New York, a community she says doesn't exist elsewhere.
Dean Majd, a 35-year-old Palestinian New Yorker photographer, uses his lens to capture empathy and specific experiences of identity. He has photographed Mamdani for Vogue and is preparing for his first solo show, highlighting the intersection of personal and political narratives.
Laylah Amatullah Barrayn is a documentary photographer known for chronicling events like the Covid pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests. She sees parallels between today's New York and the organising spirit of her childhood mosque in Brooklyn, emphasising the ongoing role of community activism.
The Patrons: Deana Haggag and Kashif Shaikh
Deana Haggag heads the Mellon Foundation's arts program and has been central to fostering Muslim cultural community in New York. She notes that anti-Muslim sentiment after October 7 spurred greater cohesion, leading to events like an Eid-al Fitr banquet that brought together luminaries and allies.
Kashif Shaikh co-founded Pillars Fund, which supports Muslim creative talent, with advisers like Riz Ahmed. He celebrates the growing recognition of Muslim contributions in arts and media, seeing it as a long-overdue acknowledgment of their impact.
The Musician: Arooj Aftab
Arooj Aftab, a Grammy-award winning Pakistani singer based in Brooklyn, blends jazz and Sufi poetry in her music. She values New York's energy for allowing individuality and sees this moment as a relief from anti-Muslim prejudices, which she describes as boring and backwards.
The Magazine: Acacia
Launched in January 2024, Acacia magazine serves as a forum for the Muslim left, addressing issues from queerness and Islam to the legacy of the War on Terror. Founded by Hira Ahmed, with Maryam Adamu as publisher and Arsh Raziuddin as creative director, it provides a much-needed journalistic home for Muslim intellectuals and creatives, carving out spaces where mainstream media often falls short.
This collective effort by Muslim New Yorkers is not just reshaping the city's cultural and political scenes but also offering a powerful counter-narrative to discrimination, fostering a more inclusive and vibrant urban future.
