Report: Mamdani’s spouse to journey to Syria, Lebanon with taxpayer-funded element

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s spouse, Rama Duwaji, is anticipated to journey to Syria and Lebanon subsequent month, protected by law enforcement officials assigned to her taxpayer-funded New York Police Department (NYPD) safety element, The New York Post reported on Monday night, citing a supply aware of the small print.

Both nations are on the United States’ “Level 4: Do not Travel” checklist for residents. Lebanon’s Level 4 standing was issued on June 5, whereas Syria’s was issued on July 8.

According to the supply, Duwaji requested the NYPD safety element after touring overseas in July with no police safety.

Mamdani’s workplace later confirmed the journey and the police safety element, The New York Post reported, however didn’t present any further element.

“Upon the strong recommendation of the NYPD, the First Lady’s security detail will be joining her when she travels to visit family in Syria and Lebanon,” stated mayoral spokesperson Dora Pekec, per The New York Post.

The supply aware of the journey informed The New York Post that the journey shouldn’t be official enterprise and that “it’s not doing anything for the city.”

Pro-Israel Jewish advocate Dov Hikind, founder of Americans Against Antisemitism and a former Brooklyn Assemblyman, opposed sending NYPD officers to the Middle East on X/Twitter, following the report’s publication.

“We’re putting the police officers in danger,” Hikind wrote. “They will be viewed as the bad guys. These are war zones.”

“Duwaji doesn’t need security. She will get a hero’s welcome and be protected by Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis.”

“Duwaji might be wonderful,” he stated.