By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews
MCKINNEY, Texas – U.S. Rep. Keith Self, R-McKinney, told Facebook followers, that foot-washing stations planned for Dallas Fort Worth International Airport amount to a “Sharia takeover” of North Texas that “must be stopped.”
The post is the latest in a series of statements Self has made about Islam and Sharia law since late 2025, a period that has also drawn scrutiny over how his current rhetoric compares with his past outreach to Muslim constituents.
What DFW Is Planning
The airport is considering a $300,000 plan to add two ablution stations in Terminal D restrooms, one for men and one for women, according to FOX 4 and Audacy/KRLD. Both outlets, along with state licensing records, describe the project as privately funded, not paid for with airport operating funds or taxpayer money.
DFW spokesperson Katie Chaumont told FOX 4 the airport is “evaluating an internal proposal” to expand a service it has offered since 2019 without incident, when the original stations were added as part of an Interfaith Chapel upgrade.
Audacy/KRLD reported the project was registered with the state on July 31, with construction planned from Aug. 31 to Dec. 31. The filing appears to put the project further along than the airport’s public comments suggest, a discrepancy that has not been resolved.
DFW Airport sits outside the district Self represents.
What the Stations Are For
The stations are designed for wudu, the ritual washing Muslims perform before prayer. The practice generally involves washing the hands, face, arms and feet and is part of preparing for the five daily prayers observed in Islam.
Ablution stations provide a designated place for that washing rather than requiring travelers to use conventional restroom sinks. DFW has offered similar facilities since 2019 as part of its Interfaith Chapel services.
The congressman’s post goes beyond objecting to the airport accommodation. He described the addition of the stations as evidence of a “Sharia takeover,” writing, “This isn’t accommodation, it’s conquest. And it’s only the beginning. The Sharia takeover happening right before our eyes must be stopped!”
Sharia refers broadly to Islamic religious principles and practices. There are no documented cases of a U.S. state or municipality adopting Sharia as its governing civil law, though Self has argued it is incompatible with the U.S. Constitution and backed legislation aimed at preventing its application in American courts.
Self did not explain in his Facebook post how adding the washing facilities would constitute a “Sharia takeover.”
A Pattern of Statements
The DFW post is not the first time Self has framed concerns involving Islam around Sharia law.
On the House floor Nov. 24, he said Sharia is “incompatible with the Constitution” and described Islam as “stuck in the 8th century.”
Less than a month later, Self and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy launched the “Sharia Free America Caucus,” which has since backed legislation including the No Sharia Act and a bill to designate the Council on American-Islamic Relations a terrorist organization.
That focus has also extended to issues closer to his North Texas district. Self criticized the proposed “EPIC City” development, citing concerns about religious governance, and attended and posted about a Wylie ISD board meeting after an outside Islamic outreach group distributed Qurans at a high school.
Last week, he spoke against the McKinney Islamic Association’s site plan at a City Council meeting, telling council members to “honor your oath that starts with the U.S. Constitution.” The council ultimately approved the plan 7-0 after more than 150 people addressed the council.
The recent string of statements marks a different public posture from Self’s relationship with Muslim constituents during his first campaign for Congress.
Earlier Outreach to Muslim Constituents
Self’s recent rhetoric contrasts with years of outreach to Muslim constituents that continued after he was elected to Congress.
According to Context Corner, Self attended events at the East Plano Islamic Center, visited Muslim constituents’ homes and accepted campaign donations from Muslim donors after beginning that outreach during his 2022 campaign.
The outlet also reported that Self attended a private fundraiser with Syrian Muslim doctors just days before his November 2025 House floor speech calling Sharia “incompatible with the Constitution.” Attendees recalled him speaking favorably about his wife’s travels in Muslim-majority countries.
That was a different tone from Self’s recent comments about Islam, including this week’s warning of a “Sharia takeover” at DFW Airport.