Rama Duwaji, wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, is co-hosting an Islamic women's spiritual wellness retreat in Corsica that frames the Virgin Mary as a "Palestinian woman" under occupation. The retreat, titled "Mary In The Quran," is scheduled to take place from Thursday to July 14.
The Women Sanctuary, an organization that offers retreats rooted in Islamic tradition, describes Mary as "the only woman mentioned by name in the Qur’an — mentioned 34 times — and the only one to have an entire chapter revealed in her name," referencing Surah Maryam. The group states her story is one of "divine motherhood, but of unwavering faith, sacred retreat, and total devotion to Allah."
Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, became the first New York City mayor sworn into office on a Quran in January 2026. His wife, a Syrian American artist, has been outspoken in her pro-Palestinian activism.
According to reports, Duwaji also recently attended a sold-out "Plants of the Quran" retreat in Mallorca, Spain, over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, where she was listed as the group's "artist in residence" and one of the hosts. This previous event drew criticism, with one Republican councilwoman stating it showed a "hatred for America."
The Corsica retreat is described as a sold-out event with a starting cost of over $4,000 per attendee. The program includes daily organic meals, communal prayers, lectures, and workshops focused on spiritual renewal. Participants also have free time for prayer, meditation, journaling, or exploring the island.
Duwaji previously issued an apology in April for controversial social media posts made in her youth. While she did not specify the posts, reports from The Washington Free Beacon indicated she had shared anti-Israel content on Tumblr, including a 2017 post featuring a photo of Palestinian militant Leila Khaled.
The New York Post first reported Duwaji's participation in the retreats after she was observed boarding a flight to Mallorca from Newark International Airport. Representatives for Mayor Mamdani's office and The Women Sanctuary were contacted for comment.