Texas Governor Greg Abbott has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Islamic ablution facilities at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.
Abbott argues that the facilities could violate anti-discrimination laws because the airports receive federal funding. His office said federally funded airports must comply with laws prohibiting discrimination.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Texas rejected the move, describing it as an “anti-Muslim political stunt.” The organisation said the washing facilities are public accommodations available to all travellers, although they are primarily used by Muslims preparing for Islamic prayers.
Muslims commonly wash their faces, arms and feet before performing their daily prayers. CAIR said providing facilities for this purpose does not amount to discrimination.
Abbott had previously referred the issue to the U.S. Department of Transportation and threatened to withdraw state funding. Following that action, Dallas-Fort Worth Airport abandoned plans to install additional ablution facilities, saying officials had concluded that the expected benefits might not be achieved.
The dispute comes amid broader concerns from civil-rights groups about rising anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States. Reuters reported that CAIR and other Muslim civil-rights organisations have accused some Republican politicians of using such issues to create fear about Muslims.
The United States has an estimated 4.5 million Muslims, including more than 300,000 in Texas.
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