New York City's first lady, Rama Duwaji, has been linked to an Islamic wellness retreat whose organizers have made hateful social media posts calling for the destruction of Israel.
What happened
The group behind the retreat, Women Sanctuary, posted on Instagram that the state of Israel has committed genocide against the Palestinian people and should be abolished. They also expressed a desire to see Palestine freed from its oppressors and for the land to be restored to its true stewards.
One post from October 2025 stated that the apartheid colonial state of Israel has committed a genocide against the Palestinian people and called for its abolition. Another post from May 2024 expressed a hope for freedom to illuminate the blessed lands of Palestine, from the river to the sea, a slogan considered antisemitic by many.
Duwaji, who is a Syrian-American animator, illustrator, and ceramist, attended a Women Sanctuary retreat over the summer and ran an illustration workshop. She has also posted anti-US and anti-Israel rhetoric on social media in the past.
