New York first lady set to travel to Syria, Lebanon with police escort, sparking controversy: New York Post

Originally from Damascus, Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, will travel to Lebanon and Syria on Sept. 20. Both countries are listed by the U.S. State Department as "do not travel" zones, according to a report Monday by the New York Post. While a source close to Duwaji emphasized to the American media that this is not an official mission but rather a family visit, controversy has grown in New York City after the mayor's office said members of the New York Police Department (NYPD) would accompany her.

According to her spokesperson, Dora Peck, the police escort was a "strong recommendation" from the NYPD itself. This statement was immediately denied by the NYPD, which stressed that it does "not send officers to countries under a level four travel advisory for discretionary reasons unrelated to investigations."

Some commentators have seized on the matter, including Dov Hikind, founder of Americans Against Antisemitism and a former Brooklyn Assembly member, as cited by the New York Post. For him, it is the officers — not Duwaji — who would be in real danger by traveling to such "war zones." According to Hikind, the first lady, known for her critical views of Israel, would instead be welcomed "as a hero" and "protected" by groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas or the Houthis.

A professional illustrator, the 29-year-old Syrian-American took part in an artist residency in Beirut in 2019 at a cultural institution that describes itself as feminist. This is not the first controversy surrounding the young woman. Her Spotify playlists featuring lyrics critical of Israel, "likes" spotted on posts celebrating Oct. 7, and past incendiary messages denouncing Israel's occupation policy have resurfaced on social media and fueled the debate. Duwaji apologized in April for the "hurt" caused by those posts. Her husband then came to her defense, describing his wife as "a private person."