Rama Dawaji's Trip to Syria and Lebanon Sparks Security Escort Controversy
Rama Dawaji, wife of New York Borough President Zahran Mmdani, announced plans to travel to Syria and Lebanon in early September, sparking a heated debate over whether she would receive a police escort.
Conflicting statements from the borough office and NYPD
The borough office claimed that a team from the New York Police Department would accompany Dawaji based on a "strong recommendation" from security officials. At the same time, an NYPD spokesperson denied any arrangement to send officers to countries under a Level‑4 travel advisory, stating that police do not join personal trips unless they are official missions.
After the contradiction grew, Mmdani told PIX11 that a "miscommunication" occurred, confirming that his wife would travel without NYPD protection. He added that Dawaji has not yet begun the trip and that no official police protection is planned.
US travel warnings and security context
The US State Department classifies both Syria and Lebanon at the highest travel advisory level (Level 4), advising against travel due to terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and limited consular assistance. The advisory is not a legal ban but signals heightened risk.
Because Dawaji holds no government position and the trip is purely personal, the NYPD refuses to deploy officers, citing officer safety and the principle that police do not engage in non‑law‑enforcement missions abroad.
Dawaji recently participated in women’s gatherings organized by Women Sanctuary in Mallorca and Corsica, with no reported threats. Details of her itinerary, duration and destinations within Syria and Lebanon remain undisclosed.
Former NYPD commissioner Bill Braton called the idea of sending officers to escort Dawaji "unwise," pointing to potential risks to officers, added costs, and the need for coordination with federal authorities.
The question remains whether Dawaji will rely on private security or travel without any official protection, given the stringent US warnings for both countries.
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