California Parents Sue Over School Mosque Field Trip

A lawsuit has been filed by a group of parents against the Palo Alto Unified School District in California and the principal of Palo Alto High School, Brent Kline. The dispute arises over a field trip that took students to a local mosque as part of the school’s Social Justice Pathway curriculum.

The legal action filed on August 7 argues that during the Fall 2025 trip, students participated in religious activities. The Muslim Community Association hosted the tour, during which students allegedly wore Muslim religious attire and engaged in rituals without parental consent. The complaint states that these minors were given Muslim garments to wear, including hijabs, and were encouraged to engage with religious texts, such as the Quran.

Activities during the visit reportedly included observing Dhuhr prayer, discussing worship, and interacting with the Noor Hifz Academy. Students were also given Qurans as gifts. Notably, discussions were held with Zahra Billoo, a controversial figure due to past statements considered antisemitic.

Attorney David Rosenberg-Wohl, representing the parents, highlighted the issue of a public school promoting a particular religion, suggesting this breaches the separation of church and state principle. The Muslim Community Association has expressed concern that the lawsuit may exacerbate Islamophobia and misunderstandings, contrary to the aims of educational engagement.

Palo Alto Unified Superintendent Jason Glass acknowledged the allegations but refrained from commenting further on the litigation. Controversy surrounding the field trip is not limited to parents alone. Some students defended the trip, indicating the complaints were overstated. The editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, Juni Thurston, refuted claims of forced hijab wearing or religious indoctrination.

Despite defending their teachers, Thurston agreed with concerns about Billoo’s presence, though acknowledging her limited role. On legal grounds, Adam Goldstein from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression asserted that compelling students to wear religious garb conflicts with First Amendment rights.