New York Mayor Denies NYPD Security for Wife’s Controversial Middle East Visit

New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani denied claims that his wife, Rama Dawaji, will receive New York Police Department (NYPD) security during her upcoming visit to Syria and Lebanon. The mayor described the previous statement by his spokesperson as a misunderstanding but did not clarify what security arrangements, if any, would be made for Dawaji, who is scheduled to travel to the Middle East on September 20.

The controversy began after Mamdani’s spokesperson, Dora Pekatz, confirmed a New York Post report stating that, based on NYPD’s recommendation, Dawaji would be accompanied by a security detail during her trip to visit family. This announcement sparked public outrage due to the use of public funds for a personal trip and the U.S. State Department’s travel warnings against visiting Syria and Lebanon because of security risks.

The NYPD, led by Commissioner Jessica Tisch, officially denied plans to provide security, emphasizing that officers do not travel to countries with Level 4 travel advisories for personal reasons unrelated to investigations. Dawaji, a 29-year-old American of Syrian descent and an illustrator, is known for her anti-Israel views and has previously praised Palestinian militants in social media posts, some of which she later apologized for, claiming they were made during her youth. However, she also liked posts celebrating the Hamas attack on October 7 and denying the reported assaults by the group.

Jewish pro-Israel activist Dov Hikind criticized the idea of NYPD protection for Dawaji, arguing it would endanger officers who might be targeted in conflict zones. Hikind suggested Dawaji would be welcomed and protected by groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, making police security unnecessary and risky.

The security arrangement for Dawaji’s trip has since been effectively canceled amid the backlash and official denials.