A group of parents has filed a lawsuit against the Palo Alto Unified School District and Brent Kline, principal of Palo Alto High School, in federal court, claiming that a field trip to a mosque constituted taxpayer-funded religious indoctrination. The lawsuit, filed on August 7 in the Northern District of California, pertains to a visit to the Muslim Community Association mosque in Santa Clara during the fall of 2025. The complaint alleges that students were encouraged to wear Islamic attire, received Qurans to take home, and observed a midday prayer service.
The case includes ten individual plaintiffs and an advocacy group, Community Members for Religious Neutrality in Public Schools — San Francisco Bay Area. Among the plaintiffs, eight are Jewish, while others are from Hindu and Zoroastrian backgrounds and do not have children enrolled in the school district. The complaint asserts that the mosque is the only religious site visited by the program and claims that the mosque's website has promoted school visits and local religious conversions.
The lawsuit alleges that the district did not maintain religious neutrality and failed to ensure equal treatment among different faiths. It also claims that students were exposed to Zahra Billoo, executive director of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), during the visit. The lawsuit describes Billoo as a controversial figure with documented negative statements about Jews and claims she had unrestricted access to students to express her religious and political views without adequate supervision.
Billoo responded to the lawsuit, stating that it was misguided and that students were taught about Islamic practices, emphasizing that participation was voluntary. She argued that learning about each other is essential in combating hate.
The lawsuit further alleges that students were photographed during the visit in a way that promoted Islamic customs and that their images were later used for promotional purposes without proper consent from parents. Superintendent Jason Glass stated that the district learned of the lawsuit through news coverage and has not yet been served. He mentioned that the district is reviewing its practices regarding religious instruction.
The plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial, declaratory relief, an injunction to prevent similar future activities, removal of student images, nominal damages, and attorneys' fees.