NYP: NYC First Lady Rama Duwaji to Travel to Syria, Lebanon With NYPD Security Detail

NEW YORK (VINnews) – New York City first lady Rama Duwaji is expected to travel to Syria and Lebanon next month with members of the NYPD security detail assigned to Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his family, according to the New York Post and a source familiar with the plans.

The trip is expected to begin Sept. 20 and is described by the mayor’s office as a family visit. Both countries face significant security concerns, with the State Department warning Americans against travel to Syria and advising heightened caution in Lebanon.

A spokesperson for Mamdani confirmed that an NYPD detail will accompany Duwaji, saying the department strongly recommended the protection.

The mayor’s office did not disclose the expected cost of the security operation. A source cited by the Post said the trip is not official city business.

Duwaji, 29, is a Syrian-American artist whose parents are from Damascus. She has previously lived and worked in Lebanon and has been active in pro-Palestinian political and cultural initiatives.

The decision to provide NYPD protection overseas has drawn criticism from former Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind, who questioned whether officers should be deployed to areas he described as dangerous.

Duwaji has also faced scrutiny over past social media activity and her criticism of Israel. She has apologized for some previous posts while continuing to participate in pro-Palestinian activism.