NY Mayor's Wife Attends Extremist Group's Retreat

An investigation has revealed that Rema Dudajee, wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, is participating as an "artist in residence" at a luxury retreat in Portugal organized by an Islamic organization that has promoted calls for Israel's destruction. The event, reported by The Washington Free Beacon, is taking place in an 18th-century historic castle near Porto and is organized by "Women Sanctuary," an organization founded in September 2023 by Reem Nour.

The five-day retreat costs between $4,300 and $5,216 per person. Dudajee is leading Arabic calligraphy workshops during the event. According to the report, she is listed on the organization's website under the name "Karl Holland."

The investigation highlights a series of extremist publications by Women Sanctuary. In October 2025, the organization called for the abolition of Israel, labeling it a "colonial apartheid state," and used the slogan "From the River to the Sea." The organization has also organized reading clubs that discussed the writings of Ghassan Kanafani, a former spokesperson and leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, an organization responsible for the Lod Airport massacre. Women Sanctuary has also previously expressed support for Ahed Tamimi, following a publication attributed to Tamimi that contained threats against settlers.

According to the report, Dudajee herself has previously been documented expressing public admiration for prominent female terrorists from the Popular Front, including hijacker Leila Khaled and bomb planter Shadia Abu Ghazaleh. This revelation comes just days after Mayor Mamdani presented an urban plan to combat antisemitism, which drew criticism from members of New York's Jewish community. Following inquiries and the publication of the report, some of Women Sanctuary's social media accounts have been made private or have ceased to be active.