Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, is co-hosting a luxury Islamic women's retreat in Corsica, France, that frames the Virgin Mary as a "Palestinian woman under occupation," according to The Women Sanctuary's website and reporting by The New York Post.
The retreat, titled "Mary In The Quran," runs through July 14 and costs just over $4,000 per attendee. Duwaji previously attended another sold-out Women's Sanctuary event in Mallorca, Spain, over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, where she was described as the group's "artist in residence" and one of the gathering's hosts.
The Women Sanctuary website states that Mary is "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," referring to Surah Maryam. The group describes itself as a women's retreat organization rooted in Islamic tradition and spiritual renewal, offering retreats in Mediterranean destinations.
Duwaji is a Syrian American artist who married Mamdani last year. In January 2026, Mamdani became the first New York City mayor sworn in on a Quran. He rose to national prominence running as a Democratic socialist with pro-Palestinian positions and faced scrutiny over his immigration stance during his campaign.
Fox News Digital reached out to Mayor Mamdani's office and The Women Sanctuary for comment but did not receive responses by publication time.
What the Left Is Saying
Proponents of the retreat view it as an exercise of religious freedom and personal spiritual practice. Supporters note that framing Maryam within Islamic tradition is consistent with how Muslims revere Mary, who is also venerated in Christianity as the Mother of Jesus. The event is described on its website as focusing on "spiritual wellness," communal prayers, devotional practices, lectures, and workshops centered on spiritual renewal.
Defenders of Duwaji argue that a spouse's private religious activities should not be conflated with official mayoral positions. They note that spouses of elected officials regularly participate in faith-based events without those activities being attributed to their partners' governance. The retreat cost and location are consistent with other luxury wellness tourism targeting professional women.
What the Right Is Saying
Critics point to what they describe as a pattern of anti-Israel activism by Duwaji. Councilwoman Joann Ariola, R-Queens, previously criticized Duwaji's Fourth of July trip to Mallorca, saying "Nothing says 'America 250' quite like skipping the celebration for a Mediterranean vacation, but I am not surprised because she has made her hatred for America very evident."
Conservative commentators have raised questions about whether framing Mary as a Palestinian under occupation reflects broader political views within the Mamdani household. Duwaji previously apologized in April for offensive social media posts from her teenage years that included anti-Israel content, though she did not specify which posts she was addressing.
Some Republican observers argue that the mayor's family activism warrants scrutiny given Zohran Mamdani's policy positions on Israel and immigration, suggesting private activities may illuminate official priorities. The New York Post first reported Duwaji's participation when conservative commentator Arynne Wexler posted photos of her at Newark International Airport boarding a flight to Mallorca.
What the Numbers Show
The Corsica retreat costs $4,000 per attendee, according to The Women Sanctuary website. This price point places it in the luxury wellness tourism market, which industry analysts estimate generates approximately $700 billion globally annually.
Duwaji was previously visible at Newark International Airport over the July 4 holiday weekend when she departed for Mallorca, where the earlier "Plants of the Quran" retreat took place. The Fourth of July period coincided with America's 250th anniversary celebrations, including planned federal observances and local events.
Zohran Mamdani won the New York City mayoral election in November 2025 and was inaugurated in January 2026. He ran on a Democratic socialist platform and became the first NYC mayor sworn in on a Quran during an inauguration ceremony that drew national attention.
The Bottom Line
The retreat has become a flashpoint in ongoing debates about Mamdani's political positions and what role his family's activities should play in public assessment of his administration. Supporters argue personal religious practice is separate from governance, while critics contend it offers insight into the household's worldview.
Duwaji apologized earlier this year for past social media posts but did not detail which content she was addressing. The Washington Free Beacon previously reported that Duwaji had shared anti-Israel posts on Tumblr as a teenager, including a 2017 post featuring a photo of Palestinian militant Leila Khaled.
Fox News Digital has reached out to both the mayor's office and The Women Sanctuary for comment on this story.