NYC Police Refuse to Provide Security for Mayor’s Wife Traveling to Middle East

A rare dispute erupted between New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's office and the New York Police Department (NYPD) over security arrangements for his wife’s planned trip to Syria and Lebanon. While Mamdani’s spokesperson initially stated that his wife, Rama Dawaji, would receive police protection funded by taxpayers during her visit, the NYPD firmly denied sending officers to countries under Level 4 travel warnings for non-investigative purposes.

Following the conflicting statements, Mamdani clarified that the situation was a "misunderstanding" and confirmed that his wife would travel without NYPD security. A source familiar with the matter told the New York Post that Dawaji, described by Mamdani as a private citizen, personally requested police protection, which the mayor’s office initially approved. However, the NYPD emphasized that it does not deploy officers to high-risk regions like Syria and Lebanon for personal security.

Dawaji recently traveled abroad without police protection and has been involved in pro-Palestinian events in Europe, including leading a retreat in Corsica and participating in a workshop in Mallorca. The proposal to assign NYPD officers to accompany her on a private trip sparked criticism from local leaders and activists, who argued it would unnecessarily endanger officers by placing them in conflict zones. Former Congressman Dov Hikind, founder of Americans Against Antisemitism, stated that Dawaji does not require such protection and that sending officers to these areas puts them at risk.

The controversy highlights tensions between the mayor’s office and the NYPD regarding the use of public resources for private travel security, especially in volatile regions. Mamdani attributed the confusion to his staff and reiterated that no taxpayer-funded police security will be provided for his wife’s trip.