Following his sensational victory in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary this week, social media has been flooded with claims about Zohran Mamdani – the 33-year-old Democratic socialist who is now odds-on to become the 111th mayor of the most populated city in the United States.

Mamdani campaigned heavily on issues around affordability in one of the most expensive cities in the world, promising free public transport and subsidized groceries funded by increased taxation on higher earners.

But many social media reactions have focused on his personal profile as a Ugandan-born Muslim of Indian heritage who has been outspoken in his criticism of the Israeli government’s policies in the Middle East, leading to allegations of Islamist extremism and antisemitism.

DW Fact check takes a look at two of the most viral claims made against him.

Claim: Mamdani is a "raging antisemite"

DW Fact check: False

At its broadest, antisemitism is generally defined as hatred of and prejudice toward Jews. DW looked into claims of antisemitism and found the following information: Mamdani has worked with Jewish politicians, such as in 2018, when he served as campaign manager for Jewish politician Ross Barkan's bid for New York State Senate, and has been endorsed by others.

Mamdani has spoken out against antisemitism on the campaign trail. In an interview with progressive Jewish US digital newspaper Forward he said "it would be absolutely incumbent on me to condemn" evidence of antisemitism. He has also stated on various occasions that there is "no room for antisemitism" in New York City, or the world.........

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