Wife of New York Mayor Zoran Mamdani Sparks Outrage by Skipping US Independence Day for Spanish Islamic Retreat
Rama Duwaji, wife of New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani, has drawn sharp criticism after she flew to Mallorca, Spain, to attend a luxury Islamic spiritual retreat during the 250th US Independence Day celebrations. The retreat, which costs $3,400 per participant, focuses on plants mentioned in the Quran and includes botanical workshops, art, and spiritual reflection. Duwaji, a 29-year-old Syrian-American artist raised in Dallas and educated in Dubai, serves as the house artist for the Women’s Sanctuary organization that runs the retreat.
Duwaji was spotted last Monday at Newark Airport boarding an eight-hour flight to Palma de Mallorca just as her husband was addressing New Yorkers amid a severe heatwave. Mamdani had urged residents to reduce air conditioning use, a request that contrasted with his wife's decision to vacation abroad. The trip was publicly revealed by conservative commentator Erin Wexler, who posted photos of Duwaji at the airport on social media, sparking immediate backlash.
Republican New York City Council members Joan Ariola and Frank Moreno criticized Duwaji for skipping the city's major civic events, accusing her of demonstrating anti-American sentiment. The mayor's office declined to comment on the public criticism but confirmed that Duwaji did not travel with her official security detail. The controversy is intensified by Duwaji’s past social media posts praising Palestinian militant groups and condemning US military actions, which she has since apologized for.
Meanwhile, Mayor Mamdani remained in New York to manage the heatwave crisis, facing his own criticism for urging residents to set air conditioners to 78 degrees Fahrenheit while parts of City Hall reportedly had temperatures as low as 54 degrees Fahrenheit. His July 4th speech, delivered from George Washington’s historic desk, included attacks on capitalism and US foreign wars, which many found inappropriate for the holiday. Despite the rocky start, Mamdani participated in traditional Independence Day events later in the weekend.
Duwaji is also scheduled to lead another retreat in Corsica, France, focused on the figure of Mary, described by the group as the most honored woman in the Quran, from July 9 to 14.
