Latest news with #Nikkah
NDTV
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
"Champagne Socialist": Zohran Mamdani Faces Flak For Lavish Uganda Wedding
New York City's mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has been branded a "champagne socialist" after reports of his extravagant and high-security wedding celebration in Uganda. The 33-year-old Democratic Socialist assemblyman held a three-day wedding party at his family's secluded compound in Buziga Hill, a posh neighbourhood on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda's capital. The event had military-style guards, multiple security gates, luxury cars, and even a cellphone-jamming system, The NY Post reported. In December 2024, Mamdani had a Nikkah ceremony with artist-animator Rama Duwaji in Dubai. Her family was in attendance. They then held a civil ceremony in February this year in New York City. This month, the couple flew to Uganda to celebrate the wedding with his parents, acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair and scholar Mahmood Mamdani, at their two-acre lakeside estate. According to local sources who spoke to The NYP, the residence was transformed into a high-security party zone with guests arriving in luxury vehicles, music playing late into the night, and guards stationed at the gates wearing masks and military-style gear. Festivities extended into the late hours under strings of lights, with buses and high-end cars such as Mercedes-Benz models and a Range Rover seen entering the premises. The event led to criticism online. Social media users pointed to the contrast between Mamdani's political platform, which includes calls for rent freezes, police budget cuts, and expanded housing rights, and the extravagant celebration. A user on X wrote, "Zohran Mamdani called ICE agents in masks 'militarised oppression.' Then flew to Uganda for his own wedding bash, guarded by masked riflemen, military tents, and a phone-jamming system - all at his millionaire family's compound. ICE for thee, private militia for me. Revolution sponsored by generational wealth." Zohran Mamdani called ICE agents in masks 'militarized oppression.' Then flew to Uganda for his own wedding bash, guarded by masked riflemen, military tents, and a phone-jamming system — all at his millionaire family's compound. ICE for thee, private militia for me.… — Sam E. Antar (@SamAntar) July 26, 2025 Another said, "Mamdani clearly doesn't see the irony-his wealth and lavish lifestyle, including that Uganda wedding bash with armed guards, stem directly from capitalism. As a self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist, he thrives while pushing policies like defunding the NYPD and rent freezes that could financially ruin everyone else." Mamdani clearly doesn't see the irony—his wealth and lavish lifestyle, including that Uganda wedding bash with armed guards, stem directly from capitalism. As a self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist, he thrives while pushing policies like defunding the NYPD and rent freezes that… — Grass???? (@DewyGrassBlades) July 26, 2025 Someone commented, "Three separate wedding celebrations in NYC, Dubai, and Uganda. It is always the same with these champagne socialists. It is remarkable how many avowed socialists during my undergrad in Trinity spent their study breaks skiing." Three separate wedding celebrations in NYC, Dubai, and Uganda. It is always the same with these champagne socialists. It is remarkable how many avowed socialists during my undergrad in Trinity spent their study breaks skiing. — Rachel Moiselle (@RachelMoiselle) July 26, 2025 Ugandan locals have reportedly taken issue with the timing of the party, which coincided with national mourning for a prominent judge in the region. Mamdani has built his political reputation on advocating for working-class New Yorkers and opposing systemic inequality. He wants to freeze rent on nearly one million apartments, build 2 lakh affordable homes, and give tenants stronger protections. His plans include raising the minimum wage to $30 by 2030, creating city-run grocery stores to lower food prices, and offering free childcare for all young children. To pay for these ideas, he proposes higher taxes on millionaires, big companies, and luxury real estate deals.
Express Tribune
09-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Forced marriage bid thwarted
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Abbottabad on Wednesday successfully thwarted a disturbing case involving digital blackmail, harassment, and an attempted forced marriage, arresting a man and his accomplice. According to official sources, the accused, Shan Ali, had illegally obtained private photos and videos of a woman and used them to blackmail her into marrying him. He reportedly shared the sensitive content via WhatsApp and Facebook with the victim's relatives in an attempt to defame and harass her. The situation escalated when Shan Ali threatened to leak the content to the victim's father and local media if she refused to marry him. Acting swiftly on the complaint, the NCCIA team rescued the woman and her two minor children from a vehicle that was allegedly en route to a forced Nikkah ceremony. Both Shan Ali and his accomplice, Arshad, were arrested on the spot. During the investigation, explicit material was recovered from Shan Ali's mobile phone, and he confessed to the crime, admitting to both blackmail and coercion. A formal case has been registered against the accused under Sections 20, 21, and 24 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, along with relevant provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Further investigations are underway.
New York Post
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Socialist NYC mayoral contender Zohran Mamdani secretly tied the knot in exotic Dubai ceremony, photos show
He said 'I Do-bai.' Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani secretly held a engagement and wedding ceremony in Dubai with his seldom-seen wife, Rama Duwaji, The Post has learned. Mamdani, 33, and Duwaji threw the under-the-radar United Arab Emirates bash Dec. 22, 2024 on the stunning rooftop of Vida Creek Harbour, which boasts views of the Burj Khalifa, according to Instagram posts by florist LMF Dubai. The pair held an engagement and a Nikkah — an Islamic religious ceremony in which a couple signs a marriage contract — during the gathering, the posts state. Wedding packages for the venue run a socialist-friendly $72 per person, with a minimum food and beverage spend of roughly $2,700. 'Before their civil ceremony in New York City, Zohran and his wife celebrated their engagement in Dubai last year—where her family lives—with a small, joyful ceremony surrounded by their loved ones,' the Mamdani campaign said in a statement. 4 Mayoral contender Zohran Kwame Mamdani and his wife Rama Duwaji held an under-the-radar wedding celebration in Dubai. Instagram/Le Marché des Fleurs 4 Wedding packages at the Vida Creek Harbour start at $2,700. Instagram/Le Marché des Fleurs 4 A florist posted photos of Mamdani's and Duwaji's celebration. Instagram/Le Marché des Fleurs Mandani — after The Post asked questions Monday about the Dubai ceremony and a backlash on X — shared a post on Instagram asking New Yorkers to focus on him, rather than his wife. 'Three months ago, I married the love of my life, Rama, at the City Clerk's office. Now, right-wing trolls are trying to make this race—which should be about you—about her,' he wrote. 'Rama isn't just my wife, she's an incredible artist who deserves to be known on her own terms. You can critique my views, but not my family.' The Queens state Assembly member has risen to second place in the crowded Democratic mayor primary race to replace Eric Adams, behind former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. His unapologetic socialist stance has raised eyebrows, especially given his privileged background as the son of filmmaker Mira Nair, who directed the award-winning 2001 film 'Monsoon Wedding,' and Ugandan academic Mahmood Mamdani. The brood lived in a stylish apartment complex along tony Riverside Drive owned by Columbia University, benefiting off the Ivy League's property tax exemption that Mamdani has proposed eliminating. While Mamdani enthusiastically wants to share the wealth, he is slightly less generous about divulging details on his recent marriage and Duwaji. He did slip to Interview Magazine that he 'got married in a civil ceremony at the clerk's office,' calling it his favorite building in New York. 'The outside is just so beautiful and reminiscent of a different New York City, and the inside is in many ways public goods personified,' he said. 'All of these New Yorkers getting married at the same time at different ages and at different times in their lives, it's very beautiful.' 4 Duwaji is an arist. Instagram/Rama Duwaji Duwaji is a Syrian artist centered in Brooklyn, whose illustrations have appeared in The New Yorker, Washington Post and VICE. She received her Master of Fine Arts in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts, which charges about $29,000 a semester. In an interview with YUNG, Duwaji said she spent the majority of the coronavirus pandemic with her family in Dubai.
Hindustan Times
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Sacked CRPF jawan refutes 'concealed marriage to Pak woman' charge, says got nod from headquarters
CRPF trooper Munir Ahmed, who was dismissed from service for marrying a Pakistani woman, said on Saturday that he solemnised his marriage after getting permission from the force's headquarters. "I initially came to know about my dismissal through media reports. I shortly received a letter from the CRPF informing me about the dismissal, which came as a shock to me and my family, as I had sought and received permission for my marriage to a Pakistani woman from the headquarters,' Ahmad said. He was dismissed on the grounds of 'national security' for "concealing" his marriage with his Pakistani wife, Minal Khan, and knowingly harbouring her beyond the validity of her visa. The former CRPF jawan said he will challenge his dismissal in court. Explaining the process he was asked to follow before marriage, Ahmed said, 'I made the first correspondence on December 31, 2022 informing my wish to marry the Pakistani national and I was asked to complete formalities like enclosing copies of passport, marriage card and affidavits.' 'I submitted my affidavit and also the affidavits of my parents, sarpanch, and district development council member through proper channels and finally got a go ahead from the headquarters on April 30, 2024,' he added. Also read | Had intel about attack on tourists but in Srinagar, around April 19: Officials Ahmed claimed he was informed that he did not need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) as he had completed the formalities by informing the government about his marriage to a foreign national. He also claimed that he was informed there was no such provision under the rules to get an NOC. "We got married online on May 24, 2024, through a video call and submitted marriage pictures, 'Nikkah' papers and marriage certificate to the 72 Battalion, " Ahmed explained. 'When she came (to India) for the first time on February 28 on a 15-day visa, we applied for a Long Term Visa in March itself and completed the necessary formalities, including interview,' he added. The couple's case came to light when media reports suggested that his wife was among the deportees despite getting married to a CRPF jawan, an Indian citizen. An intervention by the J&K high court allowed Minal Khan to avert deportation and continue to live in their Jammu residence. Ahmed said his quick application for a long-term Visa after marriage was taken as enough ground for relief by the court. The man also said he informed senior officers of his marriage to a Pakistani woman when he was transferred to the 41st Battalion in Bhopal immediately on resuming duty after leave. 'I was given the order copy and relieved immediately, leaving me with no option but to join my duties at Bhopal, where I joined on March 29. I faced the interview of the commanding officer and his deputy on reaching there and also completed the documentation process, clearly mentioning my marriage to a Pakistani woman,' he said, adding he had even made the entry in his battalion data record book. (With inputs from PTI)
Economic Times
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
CRPF trooper sacked over marriage with Pakistani woman, says he had HQ nod
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Hours after being dismissed from service for "concealing" his marriage with a Pakistani woman, CRPF trooper Munir Ahmed said he solemnized his marriage nearly a month after getting permission from the force's headquarters last year. Ahmed, a resident of Gharota area of Jammu who had joined CRPF in April 2017, said he will challenge his dismissal in the court of law. "I am sure of getting justice".The Central Reserve Police Force has dismissed Ahmed for "concealing" his marriage with Pakistani woman Minal Khan and knowingly harbouring her beyond the validity of her visa, saying his actions were detrimental to national security "I initially came to know about my dismissal through media reports. I shortly received a letter from the CRPF informing me about the dismissal which came as a shock to me and my family as I have sought and received permission for my marriage to a Pakistani woman from the headquarters," Ahmad on Saturday told PTI over phone from his marriage with Khan came to light after India asked Pakistani nationals to leave the country as part of diplomatic measures taken in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 26 people were entered India through the Wagah-Attari border on February 28 and her short-term visa ended on March 22. However, her deportation was stayed by the high court and she is presently staying in Ahmed's Jammu residence."I made the first correspondence on December 31, 2022 informing my wish to marry the Pakistani national and I was asked to complete formalities like enclosing copies of passport, marriage card and affidavits."I submitted my affidavit and also the affidavits of my parents, sarpanch, and district development council member through proper channels and finally got a go ahead from the headquarters on April 30, 2024," he CRPF trooper said he applied for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) but he was told that such a provision is not available and he has already completed the formalities by informing the government about his marriage to a foreign national in accordance with the rules."We got married online on May 24 last year through a video call. Subsequently, I submitted marriage pictures, 'Nikkah' papers and marriage certificate to my 72 Battalion where I was posted."When she came for the first time on February 28 on a 15-day visa, we applied for Long Term Visa in March itself and completed the necessary formalities including interview," he said, highlighting that this paved the way for the High Court of J&K and Ladakh to provide relief to them by staying his wife's deportation at the last moment on said he returned to his duties at the end of his leave period and was asked to report to the battalion headquarters at Sunderbani on March 25 but on March 27, "I was handed over a transfer order and posted with 41st Battalion at Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) without providing 15 days mandatory joining period."I was given the order copy and relieved immediately, leaving me with no option but to join my duties at Bhopal where I joined on March 29. I faced the interview of the commanding officer and his deputy on reaching there and also completed the documentation process, clearly mentioning my marriage to a Pakistani woman," he said, adding he has even made the entry in his battalion data record CRPF trooper said he will be moving the court in the next few days to challenge his dismissal."I am hopeful of getting justice from the court of law," he said.
