Confusion is swirling over whether the NYPD will provide security for Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s wife during her upcoming trip to Syria and Lebanon, after City Hall and the police department issued seemingly contradictory statements.

The NYPD said early Tuesday that it has no plans to send officers overseas to serve as a security detail for Rama Duwaji, 29, during her planned Middle East visit.

“The NYPD does not send officers to countries with level four travel advisories for discretionary reasons not linked to investigative work,” an NYPD spokesperson said.

Duwaji is scheduled to travel to Lebanon and Syria beginning Sept. 20. Both countries are currently listed by the US State Department under its highest-level “Do Not Travel” advisory.

The apparent contradiction emerged after City Hall said the NYPD had strongly recommended that Duwaji travel with police protection.

“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,” mayoral spokesperson Dora Pekec said.

But the NYPD subsequently made clear that officers would not be accompanying her.

“This is not an investigative trip, and therefore, NYPD personnel will not be traveling there for it,” the department said.

A source familiar with Duwaji’s security arrangements told The Post that the mayor’s wife had specifically requested NYPD protection after making an overseas trip last month without police security.

Another source familiar with the upcoming journey characterized the trip as a private visit rather than official city business.

“It’s not official business. It’s not doing anything for the city,” the source said.

The mayor’s office was asked to explain the apparent discrepancy but did not immediately respond.

Former NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton also questioned whether sending city police officers into the region would be appropriate.

Bratton told The Post that such an assignment would be “ill-advised,” arguing that placing officers in countries carrying Level 4 travel warnings would create significant risks.

He also said the operation could prove extremely expensive and require substantial coordination with federal authorities.

“There would be lots of hoops you’d have to go through for that kind of assignment,” Bratton said.

The timing of Duwaji’s planned trip could further complicate matters.

Her visit overlaps with the 81st United Nations General Assembly, one of the busiest periods of the year for New York City law enforcement.

The NYPD is expected to have substantial security responsibilities during the annual gathering of world leaders, potentially placing additional strain on police resources.

The situation also comes amid controversy surrounding Mamdani’s previous comments about protests during the UN gathering.

The mayor has publicly urged New Yorkers to demonstrate against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his expected presence in New York.

Duwaji, like her husband, has also attracted attention for political statements and social-media activity concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Post reported that Duwaji previously shared a 2015 social-media post criticizing Tel Aviv and describing its residents as “occupiers.”

She has also faced scrutiny over posts she allegedly liked on Instagram, including content concerning Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel and disputed claims about sexual violence involving Israeli hostages.

The controversy over her upcoming trip now centers on a much simpler question: Will New York City police actually accompany the mayor’s wife into two countries under Level 4 US travel advisories?

For now, the NYPD says the answer is no.

Source: nypost