Texas Governor Greg Abbott has initiated an examination of state financial support for airports throughout Texas, focusing on Islamic washing amenities at two major airports.
Abbott stated, “These wash facilities seemingly aim to favor a specific religious group, which constitutes a legal violation.”
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is set to build dedicated foot-washing stations for both men and women to perform wudu, an Islamic cleansing ritual preceding prayer. This endeavor, initially declared to be privately financed, carries an estimated price tag of $300,000 and was scheduled to commence on August 31.
This review might lead to the withdrawal of current state subsidies and the refusal of future financial assistance to airport authorities, including DFW and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
Furthermore, Abbott has requested the U.S. Department of Transportation to evaluate both airports for any indications of religious bias.
While DFW is still considering installing ablution facilities for Muslims to wash before prayer, IAH already has an ablution facility connected to a prayer room.
“Both airports are government-owned facilities,” said Abbott. “The federal and state constitutions prohibit government from facilitating this sort of discrimination.”
Abbott asked Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to have the Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration review the facilities and take corrective action if necessary.
Both airports receive federal funding and are required to comply with federal laws barring religious discrimination. The funding for DFW’s proposed facilities also came under scrutiny after an earlier state filing said the project would be privately funded.
DFW later told the Dallas Express that was incorrect and that the project would instead be paid for with airport funds. In an email to the outlet, DFW said an outside design firm mistakenly selected “non-publicly funded” when filing the project with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
“That was an error and it should have indicated that airport funds would be used projects. We are putting in firm erroneously selected no dollars for its operation To prevent that kind of error in the future,” said DFW.
X users backed Abbott’s move, with some calling for similar scrutiny of other airports.