CAIR Criticizes Texas Governor for Opposing Airport Foot-Washing Stations

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has condemned Texas Governor Greg Abbott for opposing foot-washing stations designed for Muslim ablution rituals (wudu) at two airports in the state.

The civil rights group on November 17 accused Abbott of staging another "anti-Muslim political theater" by expressing outrage over the facilities.

"Of all the absurd controversies Abbott has manufactured about Muslims over the past year, his outrage over airport foot-washing stations may be the most ridiculous and hypocritical," CAIR wrote on social media.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) scrapped plans to install wudu stations after Abbott threatened to withdraw state funding from the transportation hub.

"Like any proposed project, the airport weighs operational benefits, impact on customer experience, risk, and cost before approval," DFW said in a statement. "Although the evaluation was scheduled, the airport accelerated its review due to heightened public interest this week and decided not to proceed with the project because it did not provide the operational benefits originally anticipated."

Last week, Abbott ordered a review of funding at DFW and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston—which already has wudu stations—to "potentially claw back operating state funds." He accused the airports of religious discrimination. The Republican governor also referred both airports to federal agencies for investigation.

"These ablution facilities appear designed to be used exclusively by one group of people based on religion. That is illegal," Abbott said in a statement on November 14. "Both airports are government-owned facilities. The U.S. and state constitutions prohibit the government from facilitating such discrimination. Just as the government cannot favor the secular over the sacred, it also cannot favor one religious viewpoint over another."

While the First Amendment bars the government from establishing or favoring any religion, rights advocates argue that providing religious accommodations in public facilities does not violate the law.

CAIR noted that wudu stations, which include sinks and faucets for washing feet, would be accessible to everyone. "Foot-washing stations exist at many airports and can be used by anyone. They are no different from interfaith prayer rooms or bidet sprayers found at airports worldwide," the group said. "Muslim travelers may use them most frequently, but they are open to all."

CAIR also recalled that Abbott signed a law requiring public schools across the state to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms. Earlier, the Republican-controlled Texas State Board of Education also made Bible stories mandatory reading in public schools.

"Instead of wasting taxpayer resources on this latest anti-Muslim political theater, Governor Abbott should focus on the real issues facing our state under his leadership, from harmful data centers to school shootings, economic inequality, and the erosion of religious freedom," CAIR said.

Last year, Abbott labeled CAIR a "foreign terrorist organization"—a designation the civil rights group is challenging in court.

Abbott's move against airport foot-washing stations comes amid a rise in anti-Muslim rhetoric, as politicians, including allies of President Donald Trump, continue to make public anti-Muslim statements. Last week, Trump posted a photo of Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed with his family, implying that the Michigan doctor should not be elected because his wife—a psychologist—wears a hijab. In May, two gunmen killed three people at a mosque in San Diego in a hate crime.