The Houston chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Houston) today called on the Houston Independent School District (HISD) to take urgent and transparent action following the alleged violent targeting of three Afghan girls at Paul Revere Middle School on March 3.

According to the families involved, the girls were sitting at their lunch table when they were surrounded and physically assaulted by at least 20 students. The attackers reportedly used pencils to stab the girls. One student was reportedly beaten so severely that she became unresponsive to teachers and was taken to Texas Children’s Hospital in the Medical Center, where she remained for four days. She is now required to wear a neck brace and continues to suffer both physical and emotional trauma from the assault. 

The girls were allegedly attacked based on their ethnicity and discriminated against because they wore the Islamic headscarf (hijab) when the group wrongfully targeted them for what was believed by the families to be a case of mistaken identity over middle school drama in the school. 

One Assistant Principal broke up the fight in the lunchroom at the time.

SEE: Video taken by a student showing one principal attempting to break up the fight with two girls lying on the cafeteria floor.
SEE ALSO: Redacted face of one of the students in the hospital, with a neck brace on

To date, Paul Revere Middle School has failed to respond to multiple requests from the victims’ families and their representatives to meet regarding the incident or to accommodate their request to transfer the girls to a safer environment. HISD initially approved the transfer of one student but later rescinded the approval. The girls remain in a state of fear and anxiety, forced to return to the same school environment where they were brutally attacked.

“It is absolutely unacceptable for any student to be allegedly violently assaulted and then abandoned by the very institution that is supposed to protect them,” said William White, Director of CAIR-Houston. “These students came to this country in search of safety and stability—what they endured instead is a complete failure of accountability and compassion. HISD must act immediately to ensure their safety, support their healing, hold the students responsible accountable, and send a clear message that violence and bias will not be tolerated in our schools.”

“We are calling on HISD to immediately approve school transfers for these students so they can learn in a safe environment. We also demand a full, independent investigation into the incident, accountability for all involved—including any staff who failed to act—and trauma-informed support for the victims and their families,” White continued. “HISD must also implement strong, clear policies to prevent future acts of violence and discrimination. Our schools should be places of safety and learning, not fear and trauma.”

White also thanked Houston attorney Ahson Patoli for his work on the case and for referring the case to CAIR-Houston.

Last month, CAIR released its 2025 Civil Rights Report “Unconstitutional Crackdowns,” which reveals that Islamophobia continues to be at an all-time high across the country. CAIR said viewpoint discrimination against those speaking out against genocide and apartheid was a key factor in many cases.

Washington, D.C., based offers a guide for Muslim students and families with practical advice for both students experiencing bullying and their families.

SEE: CAIR’s Guide Against Bullying and Bias in Schools: Practical Steps for Youth and Their Families 

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.       

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.            

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CONTACT: William White, Director, CAIR-Houston, Phone: 713-254-2016, w-white@cair.com