Shahana Hanif: Quotes and Statements

Hanif has described herself as a lifelong first-generation Bangladeshi Brooklynite born in Kensington, which she now proudly represents, noting that Kensington is home to the largest Bangladeshi Muslim working-class community in Brooklyn . She has recalled growing up in a household of three rebellious sisters whose feminist values often clashed with their parents' expectations . Upon her election, she reflected that she was the daughter of Bangladeshi Muslim immigrants, a lupus survivor, and an activist, and that she was humbled to become the first Muslim woman elected to the City Council .

Hanif has spoken publicly about the impact of her lupus diagnosis, recounting that she was overwhelmed at age 17 by the prospect of discussing the disease with parents who spoke limited English and with friends who had no frame of reference for a chronic illness . She has framed her experience navigating the healthcare system as the catalyst for her organizing work, describing the costly and inaccessible nature of care as what drove her into public service . In her advocacy for Lupus Awareness Month, she has called for faster diagnoses, better access to specialists, and broader policy changes including ADA-accessible transit and free public healthcare ⁵.

Following passage of the Immigrant Workers Bill of Rights, Hanif stated that labor laws exist to protect all workers, including new arrivals and more established immigrants, and that the legislation would go a long way toward ensuring those protections are followed . As Immigration Committee chair, she called for an end to reliance on a patchwork of mutual aid organizations and demanded a robust, coordinated government response to the asylum-seeker crisis at all levels .

Hanif has described herself as committed to creating a feminist future for New York City that empowers women, transgender people, and the LGBTQ+ community . In presenting the Affirm Act, she stated that the bill would give trans and gender-nonconforming communities legal power against those who attempt to criminalize or punish their care, and that New York City must remain a safe harbor for all who seek gender care ¹¹. She condemned hospitals that suspended gender-affirming services in response to federal pressure, calling the decisions cowardly and a capitulation to the Trump administration's agenda of trans erasure .

Hanif has argued that New York City's housing crisis is driven by a shortage of affordable units and that her approach to development is rooted in maximizing affordability while maintaining community input . In discussing the Arrow Linen rezoning, she emphasized that the project demonstrated how communities and developers can work together to secure the highest proportions of affordable housing for a private land use application . In explaining her vote for City of Yes, she cited lessons learned from the Gowanus rezoning and the need for sustainable, resilient growth across all communities ¹⁵.

Upon winning the June 2025 Democratic primary with nearly 70 percent of the vote, Hanif told supporters that the result was about people power beating corporate power, about the progressive movement continuing to grow, and about communities refusing to be divided across race, class, faith, age, and language . She described being elected to represent the neighborhoods that raised her as the honor of her life .

Hanif was among the first Council members to call for an immediate permanent bilateral ceasefire in Gaza, including the return of all hostages and political prisoners . In October 2023, she posted that the root cause of the conflict was the occupation of the Palestinian people, a statement she later deleted . On the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks, she issued a statement condemning the Hamas attacks as horrific atrocities while also highlighting Palestinian casualties exceeding 40,000 and calling for an end to ongoing violence against Palestinians .

Hanif has maintained that she has repeatedly and categorically condemned Hamas and that her work combating antisemitism includes introducing legislation for an annual education campaign against antisemitism ²⁰. She has also argued that constant suspicion directed at the only Muslim woman in city elected office regarding her positions on Hamas reflects anti-Muslim bias .