{"id":2582236,"date":"2026-03-20T16:48:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T20:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mamdani-breaks-ramadan-fast-with-prisoners-at-rikers-island\/"},"modified":"2026-03-20T16:50:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T20:50:01","slug":"mamdani-breaks-ramadan-fast-with-prisoners-at-rikers-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mamdani-breaks-ramadan-fast-with-prisoners-at-rikers-island\/","title":{"rendered":"Mamdani breaks Ramadan fast with prisoners at Rikers\u00a0Island"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmamdani-breaks-ramadan-fast-with-prisoners-at-rikers-island%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2582236&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani marked Ramadan by breaking his fast wiht inmates at Rikers Island and by <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >attending 17 public iftars<\/a> around the city, viewing the visits as a step toward normalizing Muslim life in New York. He described the experience as unforgettable, noting people sharing what little they have and maintaining dignity even in a tough surroundings. The Ramadan outreach comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Rikers, which has seen federal intervention, with a judge taking control last year and appointing a supervisor to oversee operations; Mamdani has pushed reforms, including an executive order to end solitary confinement.The story also touches on Republican backlash against Islam in the United States and Democrats\u2019 efforts to censure lawmakers over Islamophobic posts related to the issue.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Mamdani breaks Ramadan fast with prisoners at Rikers&nbsp;Island<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2531817\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>New York City Mayor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/zohran-mamdani\/\">Zohran Mamdani<\/a> broke his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ramadan\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"5425\">Ramadan<\/a> fast with prisoners at the controversial Rikers Island <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/prison-guard-allegedly-watched-man-hang-himself-wouldnt-allow-other-guards-to-cut-him-down-for-15-minutes\/\" title=\"Prison Guard Allegedly Watched Man Hang Himself, Wouldn\u2019t Allow Other Guards To Cut Him Down For 15 Minutes\">jail complex<\/a> this week, describing the visit as a moment he will never forget.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;People sharing what little they have: breaking bread, offering prayer, making space for one another&rsquo;s dignity even in the hardest place,&rdquo; the mayor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NYCMayor\/status\/2035012162251288849?s=20\">posted on X<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4499056\/democrat-waves-off-hamas-tied-unrwa-workers-while-pressing-mike-waltz-gaza\/\">Democrat waves off 19 Hamas-tied UNRWA workers while pressing Mike Waltz on Gaza<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/4498859\/california-democrats-overwhelmingly-favor-gavin-newsom-over-kamala-harris-2028-poll\/\">California Democrats overwhelmingly favor Newsom over Harris for 2028: Poll<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/4498692\/supreme-court-allows-pastor-sue-protest-law-he-violated\/\">Supreme Court allows pastor to sue over protest law he violated<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>During Ramadan, Islam&rsquo;s holiest month, which concluded Thursday night, Mamdani attended 17 public iftars in the city, a daily evening meal to break the fast at sunset.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/donald-trump-the-bidens-got-rich-while-americans-got-robbed\/\" title=\"Donald Trump: &#039;The Bidens Got Rich While Americans Got Robbed&#039;\">mayor&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s appearances mark his efforts to normalize <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/muslims\/\">Muslim<\/a> life in the city.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is me just being a Muslim New Yorker,&rdquo; Mamdani <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/03\/17\/nx-s1-5747956\/new-york-city-mayor-celebrates-ramadan-with-inmates-at-rikers-island\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/03\/17\/nx-s1-5747956\/new-york-city-mayor-celebrates-ramadan-with-inmates-at-rikers-island\">told<\/a> NPR.&nbsp;&ldquo;I think there are some for whom that is a political act, and there are a million or so of us here in this city for whom it is simply a day-to-day existence.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>He added that his visit to Rikers was a reminder of &ldquo;what it means to give mercy, dignity, and humanity&rdquo; within a &ldquo;system too often defined by what it takes.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The jail complex itself has faced years of scrutiny over its conditions, culminating in federal intervention. A judge seized control of Rikers Island last year and, in January, appointed Nicholas Deml to oversee operations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Mamdani, who campaigned on closing Rikers, has continued to push reforms at the prison, including <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nyc.gov\/mayors-office\/news\/2026\/01\/mayor-mamdani-signs-two-emergency-executive-orders\">signing an executive order<\/a> in January instructing agencies to work on ending solitary confinement.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>His public events during Ramadan come as Muslim life in the United States has recently drawn backlash from Republican lawmakers in the wake of violent incidents in the country.<\/p>\n<p>Reps. Randy Fine (R-FL) and Andy Ogles (R-TN), in particular, have <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4491139\/democrats-to-censure-randy-fine-andy-ogles-islamophobia\/\">come under fire<\/a> for multiple anti-Islam posts.<\/p>\n<p>Fine previously posted on X that &ldquo;if they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one.&rdquo; His comment referenced remarks by Nerdeen Kiswani, previously an organizer for Mamdani&rsquo;s mayoral campaign, in which she <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jeffries-pledges-to-hold-randy-fine-accountable-for-post-about-muslims\/\" title=\"Jeffries pledges to hold Randy ... accountable for post about ...s\">called dogs &#038;ldquo<\/a>;unclean&rdquo; and said NYC is &ldquo;coming to Islam.&rdquo; She later said her statement was satirical.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4491139\/democrats-to-censure-randy-fine-andy-ogles-islamophobia\/\"><strong>DEMOCRATS ORGANIZE CENSURE OF FINE AND OGLES OVER ISLAMOPHOBIC POSTS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Separately, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4485381\/ogles-muslim-dont-belong-us-after-attack-nyc-protesters\/\">Ogles said<\/a> Muslims &ldquo;don&rsquo;t belong&rdquo; in American society following a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4484756\/explosive-device-pro-islam-counterprotester-nyc-mamdani\/\">protest incident<\/a> in New York where two men, allegedly acting in support of ISIS, hurled makeshift bombs at anti-Islam protesters amid dueling demonstrations outside the mayor&rsquo;s residence.<\/p>\n<p>Fine and Ogles are now facing a threat of censure in the House, as Democrats seek to formally punish them over their remarks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mamdani breaks Ramadan fast with Rikers inmates<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2582237,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26078013168673.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[76259,16816,10703,75682,76258],"class_list":["post-2582236","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-community-outreach-2","tag-fasting","tag-prisoners","tag-ramadan","tag-rikers-island-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26078013168673.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582236","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2582236"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582236\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2582240,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582236\/revisions\/2582240"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2582237"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2582236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2582236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2582236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}