- Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, is set to travel to Syria and Lebanon on September 20 with a taxpayer-funded NYPD security detail.
- The trip is confirmed by the mayor's office and is described as a family visit, despite the State Department's severe travel warnings for both countries due to dangerous conditions.
- Dov Hikind, a former New York State Assemblyman, criticized the decision to send police officers to accompany Duwaji, stating that it puts them at risk in war zones.
- Duwaji previously traveled abroad last month without an NYPD escort, but requested police protection for this trip.
- Duwaji, a 29-year-old Syrian-American artist, has ties to the region and has been involved in pro-Palestinian activism.
- The mayor's office has not disclosed the expected cost of the NYPD security operation for Duwaji's trip.
Rama Duwaji, the first lady of New York City, is set to embark on a trip to Syria and Lebanon on September 20, accompanied by a taxpayer-funded NYPD security detail. This journey comes despite the U.S. State Department's severe travel warnings for both countries due to dangerous conditions.12
Duwaji, a 29-year-old Syrian-American artist, has ties to the region and describes her trip as a family visit. However, a source familiar with the arrangements emphasized, “This is not an official mission, and there is no benefit to the city.” The mayor’s office confirmed the trip and the NYPD's involvement, stating, “At the recommendation of the NYPD, the mayor’s wife’s security detail will accompany her.”5
Critics, including former Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind, have raised concerns about the safety of deploying police officers to areas described as war zones. Hikind remarked, “We’re putting our police officers at risk. They’ll be viewed as the enemy; these are war zones.” He sarcastically suggested that Duwaji would not need protection, claiming she would receive a “hero’s welcome” from groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.3
Duwaji has previously faced scrutiny for her pro-Palestinian activism and controversial social media posts. Despite her past, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has defended her, asserting that she is a “private person” who should not be subjected to public scrutiny over her views.
The NYPD's involvement in this trip raises questions about the appropriateness of using public resources for personal travel, especially to regions with significant security risks.
“The trip is described as a family visit, but a source says it is not official business and provides no benefit to the city. Former Assemblyman Dov Hikind criticized the decision, saying officers will be viewed as enemies in war zones.”
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