Multi-Faith Parents Sue School Over Mosque Field Trip

A lawsuit has been filed against the Palo Alto Unified School District in California and Palo Alto High School’s principal, Brent Kline, by a group of parents from various faiths. This legal action stems from a field trip to a local mosque last year, which was part of the school’s Social Justice Pathway curriculum.

The August 7 lawsuit claims that during the Fall 2025 mosque visit, students participated in religious activities. They were allegedly encouraged to wear Muslim religious attire without parental consent. They were also provided with Qurans and taught about Islam’s connection to social justice.

“During the Fall 2025 mosque visit, students who were minors allegedly were provided with Muslim religious attire and encouraged to wear it while on site,” the complaint read.

Students observed a Dhuhr prayer, discussed the meaning of worship, and engaged with members of the Noor Hifz Academy. During the visit, female students were given hijabs, and all students received Qurans to take home.

Jewish, Hindu, and Zoroastrian parents filed the lawsuit and raised concerns about the involvement of Zahra Billoo, Executive Director of the Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Billoo has faced controversy for allegedly antisemitic remarks.

David Rosenberg-Wohl, representing the parents, emphasized the issue of a public school promoting Islam in its curriculum. He expressed concern over the separation of church and state in the educational context.

“In effect, kids are being told that if they are progressive and interested in social justice, Islam is the faith for them,” Rosenberg-Wohl said.

Meanwhile, the Muslim Community Association maintained that viewing exposure to Muslim practices as coercive risks reinforcing Islamophobia. Palo Alto Unified Superintendent Jason Glass stated that he is reviewing the allegations and refrained from further comment.

Some students voiced opposition to the lawsuit, suggesting the grievances were exaggerated. Juni Thurston, editor-in-chief of “The Paly Voice,” challenged claims that students were forced to wear hijabs or indoctrinated with Islamic beliefs.

Adam Goldstein, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), noted that forcing students to wear religious attire would violate the First Amendment.

“Just as the First Amendment prevents public schools from forcing students to pledge allegiance to the flag, it prevents those schools from compelling them to wear religious attire,” Goldstein said.