NYC's First Muslim Mayor Scraps Controversial Antisemitism Definition on Day One

Zohran Mamdani began his tenure as New York City's first Muslim mayor with a decisive move that has ignited fierce debate across the city. Hours after taking his oath on the Quran at a midnight ceremony beneath City Hall, Mamdani signed an executive order rescinding all directives issued by his predecessor Eric Adams after September 26, 2024—the date Adams was indicted on federal corruption charges.

The blanket revocation eliminated several controversial measures related to Israel and antisemitism that Adams had implemented in his final months. Most notably, it scrapped the city's adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism and lifted restrictions preventing city agencies from participating in boycotts or divestments targeting Israel.

The Controversial IHRA Definition

The IHRA definition has drawn criticism for equating certain forms of Israel criticism with antisemitism. Of its eleven examples, seven directly reference Israel, including statements like denying Jewish people their right to self-determination or calling Israel's existence a racist endeavor. Adams had adopted this framework in June, arguing it would help the city identify and combat antisemitism more effectively.

Critics, including pro-Palestinian activists and free speech advocates, have long argued the definition stifles legitimate political discourse. One of the key Muslim organizations in America,  welcomed the revocation, stating that Adams's order "would have enshrined the controversial IHRA definition of antisemitism even though its author has said it was never meant for government use and though the overly-broad definition declares any recognition of the Israeli government's racism or disagreement with Zionism as antisemitic."

Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, told reporters the revoked orders "appeared to be last-ditch attempts to suppress viewpoints that the mayor and his benefactors disagreed with." She emphasized that "the right to free speech does not depend on your viewpoint, and that is true for speech about Israel or Gaza, it is true about political activism about that conflict, and it is true about any other political issue that we face."

Israel's foreign ministry responded swiftly and harshly to the new mayor's actions. In a post on X, the ministry declared: "On his very first day as @NYCMayor, Mamdani shows his true face: he scraps the IHRA definition of antisemitism and lifts restrictions on boycotting Israel. This isn't leadership. It's antisemitic gasoline on an open fire."

The accusation reflects the polarized nature of the debate. During his campaign, Mamdani ran as a Democratic Socialist and openly supported the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement while criticizing Israeli policies. Adams's now-revoked order had specifically prohibited city officials overseeing the pension system from making decisions aligned with BDS principles.

Within New York's Jewish community, reactions have been similarly divided. William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, called the move "a troubling indicator of the direction in which he is leading the city, just one day at the helm." He told the Forward that it "diminishes New York City's ability to recognize and respond to antisemitism at a time when incidents continue to rise."

Yet not all Jewish voices share these concerns. Phylisa Wisdom, executive director of the New York Jewish Agenda, told media : "There is not consensus necessarily around whether the I.H.R.A. definition of antisemitism should be codified in this way. Not everyone thinks you need to codify I.H.R.A to keep the Jewish people safe, in the same way we don't necessarily have codified definitions of other forms of hate."

At his public inauguration, Mamdani was sworn in ceremonially by Senator Bernie Sanders, a Jewish politician who has been critical of Israeli policies, and made efforts to reassure Jewish New Yorkers. "Where else could a Muslim kid like me grow up eating bagels and lox?" he said, adding: "If you are a New Yorker, I am your mayor. Regardless of whether we agree, I will protect you, celebrate with you, mourn alongside you, and never, not for a second, hide from you."

Significantly, Mamdani did not revoke the city's Office to Combat Antisemitism, which Adams established in May 2025. At a news conference, he stated: "That is an issue that we take very seriously and as part of the commitment that we've made to Jewish New Yorkers: to not only protect them, but to celebrate and cherish them."

In his inauguration address, Mamdani made clear his governing philosophy: "I will not abandon principles for fear of deemed radical. We will govern expansively and audaciously. To those who insist the era of big government is over, no longer will City Hall hesitate to use power to improve New Yorkers' lives."

The revocations also included another Adams directive from his final weeks that had instructed the police commissioner to evaluate proposals for regulating protest activity near houses of worship. That order came after demonstrations outside an Upper East Side synagogue hosting an event promoting immigration to Israel sparked antisemitism accusations.

Adams had defended his measures by saying: "New York City has always been this nation's melting pot, but too often, over the last few years, we've seen those of Jewish ancestry be singled out and targeted," adding the policies were designed to "protect New Yorkers' tax dollars and protect their right to practice their religion without harassment."

As New York’s first Muslim mayor, Mamdani’s early decisions have placed him at the center of an intensely charged conversation about free speech, communal safety, and the limits of state power. How his administration navigates these tensions in practice will shape not only his mayoralty, but also how the city balances its deep diversity with its commitment to justice and constitutional rights.