When Zohran Mamdani won New York City’s most recent mayoral election, his faith became a major part of the national conversation surrounding him. Instead of debating his policies, people questioned whether a Muslim should be leading one of America’s largest cities. Online discourse surrounding Mamdani's campaign saw a documented rise in Islamophobia, including claims that Islam and Muslim identity are inherently incompatible with public office. And I don't understand it. I am Muslim, and my religion is important to me, but it does not give me authority over anyone else, and it certainly does not mean I am trying to impose my beliefs on everyone around me. That's the entire point of religious freedom. So why does a Muslim politician's faith suddenly become evidence of a “takeover?” 📝Jana Sayyed 🎨Lina Pettaris #ncstate #ncsu #technician #studentmedia #religion