An interview with Hadeeqa Malik, a past intern of New York Assemblyman and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, has caused heated backlash after she referred to Muslim political activism against Israel as "jihad." Malik, a City College of New York (CCNY) student, called upon other Muslims to embrace arrests, suspensions, and doxing while demonstrating against Israel's Gaza war. She is now suspended from the City University of New York (CUNY) system for one year.
The comments, made amid a CUNY4Palestine webinar Islamic Political Activism, reopened debate surrounding the religious framing role in political action and the growing campus polarization regarding Gaza.
Hadeeqa Malik asserted, "The true believer knows that none of this is in vain, that this is all Jihad, this is all ibadah (worship)." She further minimized dangers to activism. "The talk of doxing, the talk of getting arrested and suspended — I think it's time for Muslims to start saying, 'So what? Do what you want. I'm going to do what I got to do," she said.
Hadeeqa Malik also criticized non-participating Muslims, implying that not participating indicates moral failure. "If you're not seeing this as your issue, then something is wrong — a disease, an illness that's telling you this isn't your business," she added.
Hadeeqa Malik served as a communications, outreach, and constituent services intern in Zohran Mamdani’s office during the summer of 2024. On LinkedIn, she described the experience as “fruitful and special,” and shared photographs with the progressive assemblyman, who is running for mayor of New York.
Zohran Mamdani, a known supporter of Palestinian causes, has not yet issued a formal response to the controversy. At the same time, Malik is being disciplined by her university. As reported, CUNY has suspended her for a year after making these comments.
Hadeeqa Malik is currently earning a degree in international relations with a minor in human rights. She is the president of the CCNY chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). She is also a member of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as an outreach coordinator. She is also a Racial Justice Fellow at the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership.
Her increasing profile in liberal Muslim activism has turned her into a polarising figure. Her supporters think of her as a fearless campaigner, whereas critics blame her for bringing religious extremism into the political scene.
The event highlights the increasingly tense environment surrounding university-organised protests on Gaza. Students, staff, and officials are struggling with intensifying political stakes, public attention, and institutional pressures.
Malik's suspension and the viral backlash over her comments demonstrate the way activist language — particularly one connected to religion — keeps polarizing American campus climates.
Regardless of whether she is considered righteous resistance or incendiary rhetoric, they have raised the stakes for the national debate over religion, free speech, and protest in America.
