Fred Lucas, in an article entitled: Mosque and State: Taxpayer Dollars, Time Devoted to Islam in Schools reported that decisions are being made by public schools and colleges to provide special prayer times for Muslim students.

In one instance, the University of Michigan is preparing to spend $25,000 to install two footbaths at its Dearborn campus to accommodate Muslim students wanting to wash their feet before prayers.

Lucas reports that Muslims initially were willing to raise the money to cover the cost, but the Michigan chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union — often a foe of faith in the public square — said there was no constitutional reason why the university could not fund the project.

Kary Moss, director of the group, told the Detroit Free Press that providing the footbaths was “reasonable” and “an attempt to deal with a problem, not an attempt to make it easier for Muslims to pray.”

While the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State oppose the action, Muslim students on the Dearborn campus defended the decision. “Providing the footbaths is not just a religious accommodation,” argued Majed Afana, vice president of the Muslim Student Association chapter. “It’s also a safety measure so students won’t fall while washing their feet in conventional sinks,” he said.

You’ve Got To Be Kidding…

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