The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) plans to track and monitor the policies and personnel appointments of newly elected New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim Democrat. The move has been widely criticized as scaremongering and Islamophobia. ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt expressed concerns that Mamdani’s views on Israel are “counter to the views of the overwhelming majority of Jewish New Yorkers.” However, pro-Palestinian groups and Muslim civil rights organizations have denounced the ADL’s actions, calling them hypocritical and anti-Muslim.
The ADL has established a tipline to report antisemitic incidents in the city and will use its surveillance capabilities to feed information into a “Mamdani Monitor”. The group claims it is bolstering its research capabilities but critics say this is an attempt to harass Mamdani. Muslim civil rights groups have condemned the ADL’s actions, calling them “unhinged” and “desperate attacks on American Muslims”.
Mamdani has been outspoken about Israel’s alleged violations of international law and its impact on the Palestinian people. His campaign faced repeated Islamophobic attacks from pro-Israel voices and independent challengers. The Center for the Study of Organized Hate reported a significant increase in Islamophobic discourse surrounding Mamdani online.
Source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/adls-move-establish-mamdani-monitor-slammed-scaremongering-and-islamophobia