New York City's First Lady, Rama Duwaji, finds herself embroiled in fresh controversy, revealed to be an "artist-in-residence" at a lavish, Islamic-centered women's retreat whose organizers openly advocate for the destruction of Israel and the "cleansing" of "oppressors." This troubling association emerges just as her husband, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, announced a new plan to combat antisemitism in the Big Apple—a plan conspicuously silent on Zionism.
The organization behind the opulent "Journey through Islamic Calligraphy" retreat in Porto, Portugal—the Women Sanctuary—has propagated deeply disturbing sentiments across its social media platforms. "The apartheid colonial state of Israel has committed a genocide against the Palestinian people," declared an October 2025 Instagram post. It continued with an unequivocal demand: "Abolish the colonial apartheid state of Israel. Free Palestine."
The Women Sanctuary has also invoked the contentious "from the river to the sea" slogan, a phrase widely recognized as a call for the eradication of Israel and its Jewish population. A May 2024 post from the group expressed hope for freedom to "illuminate the blessed lands of Palestine, from the river to the sea."
Further demonstrating its extremist leanings, a September 2024 post shared a prayer to "Allah" pleading for the "liberation of Palestine," stating explicitly, "Cleanse Palestine from tyranny and from its oppressors." Another eyebrow-raising message from March 2025 proclaimed: "May the winds of freedom sweep across Palestine, ushering in the complete and rightful restoration of the land’s true stewards."
Ms. Duwaji, 29, was not merely a guest but actively participated, running the retreat's "marvelous illustration workshop" during a summer session this year. The price tag for attendees was steep, ranging from $4,300 for a shared room to $5,260 for a private room in the tranquil manor house nestled in Portugal's Arcos de Valdevez countryside.
This isn't the first time the First Lady has courted controversy through her association with the Women Sanctuary. In July, she made headlines for skipping America's 250th birthday celebration to attend a different retreat hosted by the same organization on the Spanish resort island of Mallorca. This pattern of prioritizing radical associations over patriotic duties raises serious questions about her judgment and allegiances.
The revelation of Duwaji's deep ties to this group, which openly calls for the annihilation of Israel, casts a glaring spotlight on the hypocrisy emanating from New York City Hall. Her husband's recent announcement of a plan to fight antisemitism, which notably refused to define or even acknowledge Zionism, rings hollow given his wife's active involvement with an organization that demonizes Israel and its supporters.
This isn't merely a lapse in judgment; it's a profound betrayal of the trust placed in public figures and a direct affront to American values of religious freedom and support for our allies. As New York City grapples with rising antisemitism, its leaders must demonstrate unwavering clarity and commitment, not partner with groups that openly call for the destruction of a key ally and the "cleansing" of its people. The American people deserve transparency and accountability, ensuring that those in positions of influence stand firm against radical ideologies, not enable them through lavish retreats.
