Greg Abbott announced Friday he had referred "discriminatory" religious facilities at two of the state's major airports to the Justice Department over the installation of Islamic foot-washing stations in its bathrooms. Last week, Abbott directed the state to conduct a review of grants to entities operating Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston for possible revocation and denial of future funding over plans to install Islamic wudu washing facilities. He previously referred both airports to the U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT) for investigation and threatened state funding. DFW AIRPORT SCRAPS CONTROVERSIAL ISLAMIC FOOT-WASHING STATION PLAN AS TEXAS GOV ABBOTT TAKES AIM "These ablution stations single out one subset of the population for special treatment based on religion," Abbott said in a statement. "They are not interfaith chapels open to all.
They exist to benefit the Muslim population alone. Government-owned airports cannot favor one religion over all others." Abbott called on the Justice Department to review policies at both airports, noting both are subject to numerous conditions because they receive federal funding, including the requirement to comply with all laws prohibiting discrimination and protecting the rights of all Americans. Attorney General Todd Blanche, Abbott said the washing facilities at IAH are furnished with "copies of the Quran, prayer rugs, prayer beads and a turbah." He noted that both airports are owned by the government.
"Yet, these stations are designed to single out one subset of the population for special treatment based on religion," he wrote. "It is clear that these government-owned airports have used — and continue to use — funds charged to the public to finance, maintain, advertise, and operate Muslim-only spaces on property that should be open and accessible to all citizens. "Airports can no more offer Muslim-only bathroom spaces than they can maintain white-only bathrooms.
Your office has the authority to investigate and put a stop to these discriminatory practices." CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS' PUSH TO MAKE MUSLIM HOLY DAYS STATE HOLIDAYS SPARKS DEBATE OVER SCHOOL NEUTRALITY The matter drew increased public attention as DFW was evaluating a proposal to add ablution washing stations in Terminal D, its international terminal. Airport officials eventually decided not to move forward with the plan. A projected filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation said the plan would have been privately funded with an estimated cost of $300,000, but an airport spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital that the figure was closer to $120,000.
HOUSTON FACES $110M HIT AS TEXAS GOV LAYS DOWN LAW ON 'SANCTUARY' POLICIES Despite DFW abandoning plans for a washing station, "it has since been discovered that two such stations are already in operation at the airport," Abbott said. At IAH, the washing station was in response to requests from passengers, Houston Mayor John Whitmire said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. He noted that the Mickey Leland International Terminal serves around 365,000 passengers annually from Emirates Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways.
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