A community Barakah Breakfast in a Plano park took an ugly turn yesterday when a man walked up to a group of Muslim students and volunteers from Islamic Relief at the University of Texas at Dallas and started hurling anti-Muslim slurs as they finished their prayer. No one was physically hurt, but attendees were clearly shaken. Organizers say they refuse to let the encounter derail their volunteer work.
According to CHRON, the man called Islam a “disgusting fake religion” and told the group they would “go to hell” if they did not repent. Islamic Relief at UT Dallas (IRUTD) later posted on Instagram denouncing the tirade as wholly disrespectful, offensive and factually incorrect and urged members not to respond or escalate the situation.
Video Sparks Online Backlash
Footage of the confrontation was shared on Reddit and quickly drew thousands of reactions. Commenters roundly condemned the man’s behavior and helped push the clip across other social platforms, reviving broader conversations about how safe Muslim worshippers really are when they pray in public spaces.
Political Backdrop
The incident is unfolding against a tense local backdrop, with Muslim-led projects in North Texas facing heightened scrutiny and some officials ramping up anti-Muslim rhetoric. Reporting by The Dallas Morning News details how debates over a proposed development known as EPIC City, along with comments from elected leaders, have helped fuel friction in the region.
Organizers Urged Calm
IRUTD’s Instagram statement urged the community to respond “with peace, patience, respect and dignity” and vowed that volunteers would continue their service work in spite of the harassment, according to CHRON…