The newly elected mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, is married to Rama Duwaji, a woman of Syrian descent. For many in Syria, that practically makes him family.

That he's also a Muslim and a supporter of the Palestinian cause doesn't hurt either, and his election victory has inspired warm feelings and an outpouring of humour in the Arab world.

"I love how Syrians are now calling Zohran Mamdani our brother-in-law," wrote Karam Nachar, editor-in-chief of Al Jumhuriya, an independent Syrian media outlet.

"The poor man thought he was marrying one Syrian woman! No, habibi Zohran, you belong to the entire nation now."

Mamdani's wife Duwaji, a 30-year-old illustrator and designer, was born in Texas to Syrian parents and grew up partly in Dubai. This has prompted many Syrians keen to shar

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