New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has found himself at the centre of a political firestorm over his wife’s past illustration work related to Palestine.The imbroglio began last week, when several right-wing news outlets reported on New York City First Lady Rama Duwaji’s past work connected to Palestinian author Susan Abulhawa and several incendiary comments Abulhawa has made.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listBut the response from Mamdani, who has since decried Abulhawa’s past statements as “abhorrent”, has sparked blowback from some of his own supporters, who say he risks reinforcing harmful narratives that conflate support for Palestinians with anti-Jewish sentiment.Some critics also say the situation underscores a broader double standard in the US, one in which the first Muslim mayor of the country’s largest city faces heightened scrutiny, even as high-profile elected lawmakers launch blatantly Islamophobic attacks with little recourse.Here’s what to know:What was the work in question?Duwaji’s ties to Abulhawa were first reported by the conservative news site the Washington Free Beacon last week.It said that 28-year-old Duwaji, a freelance illustrator, had provided an illustration for an “essay” compiled by Abulhawa as part of a collection from writers in Gaza titled “Every Moment is a Life” published online by “Everything is Political”.Abulhawa later clarified that the piece was actually a short story written by a resident of Gaza displaced during Israel’s genocidal war. Titled “A Trail of Soap”, it detailed the difficulties and indignities of using a public, makeshift restroom in the war-torn enclave. Advertisement Mamdani said Duwaji had been commissioned by a third par …
