Independent observers dismiss Asra Nomani’s report as politically motivated smear

NEW YORK (MNTV) — Pakistan-born commentator Asra Q. Nomani has come under fire after publishing a Fox News Digital report accusing Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani of benefiting from an elaborate, decade-long political project allegedly orchestrated by Muslim advocacy groups, socialist organizations, and George Soros–funded foundations.

The 12-minute investigation, published on October 27 under the title “Inside the Mamdani Machine: Soros cash, socialists and radical imams engineered Zohran Mamdani’s path to power,” accuses that Mamdani’s political rise was not the result of grassroots activism, but rather what Nomani describes as “a carefully constructed political project.”

Her report traces Mamdani’s journey back to 2017, highlighting a photograph of him volunteering alongside Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour, which she presents as evidence of coordination between progressive Muslim groups.

It alleges that organisations such as MPower Change and EmgageUSA — which have received roughly $2.5 million in grants from the Open Society Foundations — formed the “core machinery” driving Mamdani’s ascent.

According to Nomani’s account, this network of more than 100 Muslim and left-leaning advocacy groups, unions, and faith-based organizations — including CAIR Action, the Islamic Circle of North America, and Desis Rising Up and Moving — constitutes “a sophisticated political infrastructure” designed to advance Mamdani’s campaign through endorsements, canvassing, and social media mobilization.

The story has triggered widespread criticism from civil rights advocates, media analysts, and political observers, who accuse Nomani of recycling Islamophobic tropes under the guise of investigative journalism.

Observers say that her framing of Muslim political activism as an organized threat mirrors decades-old narratives that cast Muslim civic engagement as subversive or foreign-influenced.

“Asra Nomani’s piece is not journalism — it’s a political hit job built on prejudice,” said one New York–based advocacy leader. “By implying that Muslim organizations are part of a secretive power network, she’s fueling suspicion against an entire community.”

Muslim-American groups also condemned Nomani for what they described as “selective citation and conspiratorial framing,” noting that the organizations she mentions are legally registered nonprofits engaged in voter education and civil-rights advocacy — activities that mirror those of numerous other American faith-based groups.

Longstanding pattern of targeting Muslim public figures

Nomani’s critics point to a pattern in her work, which has often centered on attacking Muslim political and community leaders.

A former Wall Street Journal reporter who migrated from Karachi, Nomani has become a regular figure on conservative outlets like Fox News, where she has accused Muslim civil rights groups and women who wear the hijab of promoting extremism.

Commentators and observers say her latest report follows the same formula used in previous attacks on Muslim politicians such as Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib — presenting civic engagement as evidence of a shadowy agenda.

“This is an Islamophobic playbook repackaged in a data-driven format,” said a political analyst at a New York think tank. “It’s an attempt to delegitimize Muslim participation in democracy by portraying normal coalition-building as something sinister.”

Mamdani’s campaign and public response

Zohran Mamdani, who represents Queens in the New York State Assembly, is known for his progressive stances on affordable housing, immigrant rights, and healthcare.

His mayoral campaign has drawn wide support from working-class communities, labor unions, and diverse grassroots networks.

Supporters of Mamdani say Nomani’s piece is a politically motivated smear designed to distract from the substance of his campaign.

“This isn’t investigative reporting — it’s fear-mongering dressed up as analysis,” said one campaign volunteer. “These attacks reveal more about Nomani’s bias than about Mamdani’s politics.”

As the backlash grows, many observers view the controversy as part of a broader struggle over representation and bias in U.S. media coverage of Muslim politicians.

Analysts warn that framing Muslim civic organizations as “networks of influence” risks normalizing suspicion toward one of America’s most underrepresented communities in public life.