Indy Airport Officials Say Muslim Foot-Washing Sinks Have Nothing to Do With Religion
Charles Johnson
Tue Oct 2, 2007 at 9:38 am PDT • Views: 335
Officials at Indianapolis International Airport may be stridently denying that their plan to install foot-washing sinks has anything to do with religion, but a Muslim spokesman certainly seems to think it does: Foot-Washing Sink Proposal Causes Stir.
INDIANAPOLIS — A proposal to install a foot-washing sink at Indianapolis International Airport is prompting debate over ethnicity, religion and the U.S. constitution.
Muslims use the sinks to wash their feet before praying but some say that allowing the sinks on public property violates the separation of church and state, 6News’ Cheryl Jackson reported.
Airport officials said they are considering installing a sink because of safety and health issues, with no consideration of religion.
More than 100 Muslim taxi drivers currently use a traditional sink at the airport, leaving the floor wet and increasing the possibility of passing germs. Shariq Siddiqui said he thinks opposition to the plan is at the surface of a bigger issue.
“This is an issue of Islamophobia. This is not about sinks,” Siddiqui said. “The only difference between me and my neighbor is that we may follow different faith traditions.”
Frank says: