New York City's First Lady Rama Duwaji is set to travel to Porto, Portugal, in September to lead a "Journey through Islamic Calligraphy" retreat organized by The Women Sanctuary. This marks her third engagement with the group this year as an artist-in-residence.
The retreat, detailed on The Women Sanctuary's website, is divided into two sessions: September 16-21 and September 25-30. The program includes explorations of Islamic history in Portugal, illustration workshops led by Duwaji, and informal gatherings described as "unhurried moments" for spiritual reflection and connection.
The venue, a manor house in Arcos de Valdevez, offers amenities such as heated indoor and outdoor pools and landscaped gardens. The cost for participation ranges from $4,300 for a shared room to $5,260 for a private room.
Duwaji's upcoming trip has drawn criticism from some city officials. Queens City Councilwoman Joann Ariola stated that previous first ladies focused on community work, contrasting it with Duwaji's travel schedule. Former Queens City Councilman Bob Holden echoed these sentiments, calling Duwaji's actions hypocritical and indicative of a "jet setter" mentality.
This is not Duwaji's first retreat with The Women Sanctuary this year. She previously attended a gathering in Mallorca, Spain, in August, which coincided with America's 250th birthday celebration. In July, she participated in another retreat in Corsica, France, focused on the legacy of Mary as described in the Quran.
Duwaji, a Syrian-American animator, illustrator, and ceramist, has previously expressed critical views on U.S. foreign policy. In a 2015 Tumblr post, she stated that American soldiers fighting in "imperialist wars" were not brave and were responsible for slaughtering civilians to maintain American hegemony.
Mayor Mamdani has defended his wife, asserting that she is not an official member of his administration and should be free from public scrutiny regarding her personal activities.
It was initially reported that Duwaji would have an NYPD security detail for her trip, but the NYPD later denied this. Mamdani attributed this discrepancy to a communication error within his own staff.
In addition to the Portugal retreat, Duwaji is scheduled to visit Lebanon and Syria in September, countries currently listed on the U.S. State Department's "Do Not Travel" advisory list.