Orlando Airport Will Open Muslim Prayer Room

The Orlando International Airport is spending $250,000 to build the "Reflection Room," a prayer room for Muslims.

The airport made the decision after Emirates Airlines announced it will soon be offering direct flights from Orlando to Dubai. Muslims make up the majority of the airlines travelers.

Rev. Franklin Graham said the new prayer room appeases Muslims.

"The airport already had an interfaith prayer room since 1983 (with prayer rugs available in it) - but that wasn't enough," he posted on his Facebook page.

"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?" he asked. "Why do Muslims get preference?'

However, an airport spokewoman denied that any taxpayer funds are being used for the facility.

"We do use passenger facility charges that are built into ticket fees, as virtually all airports do, but there are no tax dollars provided at all for the operation of the airport," spokeswoman Carolyn Fennell said.

The Muslim prayer room is expected to be open by Sept. 1.