California High School Faces Lawsuit Over Quran Distribution and Hijab Encouragement

A group of parents and former students have filed a lawsuit against a high school and its local education district in Palo Alto, California, alleging inappropriate religious promotion during a school visit to a mosque. The visit was part of the school's "Path to Social Justice" program last fall. According to the lawsuit, students were given copies of the Quran and female students were encouraged to wear the hijab, actions the plaintiffs claim exceed the permissible educational scope of a public school.

The plaintiffs, representing Jewish, Hindu, and Zoroastrian families, also allege that students were photographed during the mosque visit and that these images were published online without parental consent. They argue that the school failed to maintain religious neutrality and violated students' privacy and parents' rights to due process. The lawsuit names the Palo Alto Unified School District and the high school principal, Brent Klein.

The lawsuit further criticizes the involvement of Zahra Billoo, director of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, who met with students during the visit. Billoo has faced controversy for comments urging supporters to be discreet about "hatred of Zionists." She denied the lawsuit's claims, stating that public schools must maintain religious neutrality but also expose students to diverse worldviews. Billoo emphasized that student participation was voluntary and aimed at educational exposure to Islamic customs.

The Palo Alto school district stated it learned of the lawsuit through media reports and has not yet received legal documents. Superintendent Jason Glass said the district is reviewing its policies to ensure religious instruction remains academic and not devotional. The case raises broader questions about the boundary between religious education and endorsement in public schools.

Summary: Parents and former students in Palo Alto sue a high school and district over a mosque visit where students received Qurans and were encouraged to wear hijabs, alleging religious endorsement and privacy violations. The school district is reviewing its policies amid the controversy.