The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is reporting that it, along with its Texas chapter, sent a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet K. Dhillon, urging the Department of Justice to reject Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's request to investigate Muslim prayer and washing facilities at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport. CAIR said these facilities are open to all travelers regardless of faith and that Gov. Abbott's comparison of them to segregation-era "white-only bathrooms" is offensive and inaccurate. CAIR and CAIR-Texas urged the DOJ to focus federal civil rights resources on genuine threats to religious liberty, including anti-Muslim violence and attacks on houses of worship. CAIR-Texas previously commended Houston Mayor John Whitmire for rejecting Abbott's claims, noting the facilities are funded by international-airline fees, not taxpayer dollars.
CAIR is also calling on U.S. universities to stop accepting funding from the Israeli military. CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said American universities should not function as research laboratories or financial partners for a foreign military engaged in an "ongoing genocide." He said universities have a responsibility to be transparent about research funding and to terminate unethical relationships with foreign militaries or weapons manufacturers.
Separately, CAIR-Georgia and other faith leaders denounced Israel's alleged violation of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. They are seeking a reversal of Israel's entry ban on U.S. citizen faith leaders, including a retired Emory professor. CAIR-Georgia Executive Director Azka Mahmood said Israel's denial of entry violates the program, which requires non-discriminatory admission for all American visitors. She said Israel has shown it is not a trusted partner and engages in discriminatory practices against American citizens despite benefiting from the program.
Additionally, CAIR, AJP Action, and the IMEU Policy Project are urging Congress to hold Israel accountable for the alleged theft of Palestinian land and the violent siege of a Palestinian-American home in Qusra. They said the U.S. must stop enabling the actions of violent Israeli military and settlers.