Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is planning to install Islamic foot-washing stations in two bathrooms by the end of the year. The project “aims to prevent water on standard restroom floors and protect sink counters,” per local reporting.
White House correspondent Natalie Winters drew attention to the $300,000, privately funded project in a post on X this past Wednesday.
The project is titled “DFW – Wudu – Ablution stations – Terminal D” on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation project details page. The page states that “ablution [washing] stations” will be installed in both the men’s and women’s restrooms in Terminal D, and is expected to begin at the end of August.
Wudu is the ritual washing and purification of the body before Muslim acts of worship. The feet are generally the last part to be washed.
According to Fox News, the project is meant to prevent water from accumulating on bathroom floors and counters when travelers wash their feet in the public sinks.
Conservative activist Ryan Fournier commented on the project, stating that “people washing their feet in standard bathroom sinks creates soaked, slippery floors and breaks the counters. Low-level wudu basins keep the restrooms dry and safe for everyone.”
Many commenters on Winters’ original post expressed different sentiments.
“Dedicated Islamic ablution stations signal that American norms take a back seat. Americans don’t want the third world in our airports,” said one commenter.
Another commented, “Who ok’d this? … How often are these foot baths cleaned? Ick.”
The Dallas Mayor’s office, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and DFW airport have not responded to a request for clarity regarding the motivation behind the washing stations.
Muslims make up approximately 1-2 percent of the population of Dallas-Fort Worth and Texas, while Christians represent about 65 percent of the population for both the metroplex and state.
While DFW Airport hosts five interfaith chapels, there are no Christian-specific worship spaces. Kira Davis described her experience at two of the chapels in April. “They were essentially mini-mosques, labeled as ‘interfaith’ chapels.”
Davis stated that the first chapel she visited “included a lot of Islamic imagery and two large cabinets jammed with Islamic prayer rugs,” but “no crosses. Not a single one.”
The second chapel had “some Bibles tucked on shelves, but prayer rugs were everywhere, including hanging on the racks on the wall. A sign encouraged the faithful to ‘look up’ to find Mecca – a compass was painted on the ceiling,” according to Davis. Muslims are generally required to face Mecca when praying.
“Islam and Christianity are not allies,” stated Davis. “We have no business worshipping in the same space, and in fact, cannot. The Muslims there knew it. I knew it. Airport planners don’t care or perhaps they know it too.”
“Go find your airport chapel and claim it. Pray there. Leave a cross and a Bible and a note. Do not cede this ground. Do not cede any ground.”
