Mayor Eric Adams rebuked mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s longstanding push to decriminalize prostitution – questioning how somebody who calls himself religiously guided could ever support sex work.

“I can’t be more clear. I’m a man of God, just as Mamdani says he’s a Muslim. I don’t know where in his Quran it states that it’s okay for a woman to be on the streets selling their body,” Hizzoner told reporters Sunday.

“I don’t know what Quran he is reading. It’s not in my Bible,” he added. “As a man who said he is of faith, I don’t quite understand what religion supports prostitution.”

Mayor Eric Adams speaks with reporters on Sunday. NY Post/Steven Vago

Islam – Mamdani’s religion – prohibits prostitution under its laws of morality.

Adams slammed the Democratic mayoral nominee after The Post cast the spotlight on Mamdani’s past push to change the statute that makes it a crime for people to sell their bodies for sex in New York.

It’s an issue Mamdani has taken up multiple times since he ran for state assembly in 2020 and has continually supported since — but the 33-year-old Socialist has been largely mum on the issue since he started his run for mayor.

That’s left some critics worried Mamdani might make a sudden push for legal prostitution if he makes it into office in the fall.

And Adams said it would be a shame if he does – arguing Mamdani is “lost” on the harsh realities of sex work and the damaging crime it attracts.

A woman suspected of being a prostitute on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. NY Post

“I think he’s lost on the fact that sex trafficking is very much part of prostitution,” Adams said. “We are trying to bring down crime and he is talking about legalizing sex work.”

“You’re not doing any service to a woman who is on the street who is forced to sell her body for whatever reason,” he added. “No one should be on our streets selling their bodies. No one.”

Supporters of legalized sex work often argue that prostitutes would be less vulnerable to violence from clients, pimps, and even law enforcement.

Frontrunner candidate Zohran Mamdani has been quiet on the issue of prostitution during his mayoral campaign. Michael Nigro

But some studies of places where it has been legalized – like Nevada and some European countries – have found human trafficking spikes to fulfill the demand for sex workers, as other forms of organized crime fester around the industry.

Mamdani has co-sponsored several bills that would legalize prostitution across New York state while serving as a Queens assemblyman.

And while he would still need to go through the state legislature to pass a law, if elected mayor, he would hold a key platform to advocate for the change and also to deprioritize prostitution enforcement by the NYPD.

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Some have even feared the Big Apple could become a hub for sex tourism to rival Amsterdam’s famous Red Light District if Mamdani has his way.

That’s something Mayor Adams – who is running for reelection against Mamdani as an independent – says he doesn’t want.

“If that is his belief, it is a danger for our city,” Adams said. “Our city needs to be a safe city. It should not be a city where women are standing on corners, or boys are standing on corners, or young men standing on corners selling their bodies.”

A Mamdani campaign rep shot back at Adams, without saying if he still supports decriminalizing prostitution.

“Mayor Adams’ reckless budget cut over $3 million in funding from Safe Horizon, putting thousands of victims of crimes related to sex trafficking and prostitution in harm’s way,” the Mamdani spokesperson said in a statement to The Post. 

“As Mayor, Zohran will prioritize genuine public safety for all, including investing $40M through his Department of Community Safety towards victims services.”