Franklin Graham wants to know why Muslims get a new mosque in an airport where an interfaith room with prayer rugs already exists. He says there’d be an outcry if the airport spent $250k on a new prayer room for Christians:
CHRISTIAN POST – The Rev. Franklin Graham has spoken out against Orlando International Airport’s recent unveiling of plans to create a new Muslim prayer room that will cost $250,000 in taxpayer dollars, and asked how loud would objections be if the money were allocated to build a prayer room for Evangelical Christians, or other groups.
“Let’s call this what it is — a mosque. The airport already had an interfaith prayer room since 1983 (with prayer rugs available in it) — but that wasn’t enough. How loud do you think the objections would be today if they spent $250,000 in taxpayer money to build a new prayer room exclusively for Evangelical Christians? Or for Jews or Mormons or any other group? Why do Muslims get preference?” Graham asked in a Facebook post on Saturday.
News 13 reported earlier this month that the prayer room is set to open on Sept. 1. The decision to build a new “Reflection Room” to Terminal B at the Orlando airport was made after Emirates Airlines announced it’s adding non-stop flights from Orlando to Dubai, which would mean an increase of passengers from the Middle East.
“These rooms provide travelers an opportunity to pray in their own way and have peace before they take on a long flight,” explained Imam Muhammad Musri, president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida.
Carolyn Fennell, airport director of public affairs, said that the room will be open to international travelers regardless of their faith, but will keep in mind Muslim practices.
“So they aren’t having to, if it is the case, kneel on bathroom floors or in corners so they have the reflective time,” Fennell said.