Fahad Solaiman, a prominent Bangladeshi business leader in Queens, has rescinded his support for mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, citing opposition to the Assembly member’s stance on prostitution.
Solaiman, General Secretary of the Jackson Heights Bangladeshi Business Association, initially supported Mamdani for his advocacy on Palestinian issues but reconsidered after reviewing his policy positions.
Solaiman criticized Mamdani’s stance on prostitution, saying that “legalizing sex work is tantamount to legitimizing human trafficking,” and pointed to the visible presence of sex work along Roosevelt Avenue as a concern for the community.
Mamdani has co-sponsored legislation to legalize prostitution, framing it as a matter of justice. The measure has sparked criticism from religious and community leaders who view the practice as morally objectionable.
In response, Solaiman has thrown his support behind Andrew Cuomo, an independent candidate in the mayoral race. He also organized a mosque event where community and religious leaders expressed their endorsement. “Prostitution is haram,” a local leader said, raising concerns about its impact on neighborhoods near churches, mosques, and schools.
Critics of Mamdani also point to inconsistencies in his public persona. According to Solaiman, Mamdani emphasizes his South Asian heritage in front of South Asian communities but presents himself as African in predominantly Black neighborhoods.
Several South Asian leaders said Mamdani has become less accessible since winning the Democratic nomination. They argued that his positions—including support for legalizing prostitution, opposition to education programs like Gifted and Talented and Specialized High Schools, and advocacy for gender ideology policies including boys in girls bathrooms—conflict with the community’s religious and family values.
