CAIR-Texas Calls Out False Claims by Texas SBOE Member Regarding ‘CAIR’s Demands’
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CAIR-Texas Calls Out False Claims by Texas SBOE Member Regarding ‘CAIR’s Demands’
February 27, 2026
10:48 am
The Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Texas) today called out false and misleading statements made by a member of the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE), who publicly mischaracterized testimony and educational recommendations presented by a CAIR-Texas leader during the ongoing review of the state’s Social Studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
CAIR-Texas leaders have been testifying before the Texas State Board of Education to express concerns about the current social studies TEKS review and to urge the board to ensure that Muslims are accurately represented in world, U.S., and Texas history curricula.
At the February 25 SBOE meeting, Shaimaa Zayan, CAIR-Austin Operations Manager, testified about the long-overlooked role of Muslim African Americans in U.S. and Texas history, including enslaved Africans brought to this country and prominent Muslim civil rights leaders such as Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali.
WATCH: CAIR-Austin Manager Shaimaa Zayan’s Testimony, Feb. 25th (Read HERE)
Julie Pickren SBOE member (D7), who exited the room in protest during Zayan’s testimony, later released a video in which she held Zayan’s purported testimony in her hands and then proceeded to deride various claims and "CAIR’s demands" that the organization never made, such as demanding that schools stop teaching about Christopher Columbus. CAIR-Texas never made such demands.
WATCH: SBOE member Julie Pickren’s Fabricated Claims About “CAIR’s Demands”.
WATCH: Tiffany Perkins Calls Out Julie’s Misleading Video Regarding CAIR-Texas Testimony
In a statement, Shaimaa Zayan, Operations Manager of CAIR-Austin ,said:
“Discussion and disagreement are part of the democratic process. However, spreading falsehoods, misrepresenting testimony, and publicly smearing community members who are advocating for historically accurate education crosses a dangerous line. Texas students deserve an education rooted in facts, not fearmongering or favoritism.”
Following the incident, Zayan emailed Pickren requesting clarification on the origin of these alleged “CAIR’s demands,” but has received no response. Zayan has also formally requested guidance from the SBOE Member Support Manager regarding potential violations of SBOE conduct and decorum and is awaiting the requested information.
CAIR-Texas leaders have been facing intimidation at SBOE meetings despite providing factual and respectful testimony.
WATCH: I won’t listen to them push sharia in our schools.
READ: She Wanted to Speak on Anti-Muslim Bigotry. She Was Labeled a Terrorist Leader.
CAIR-Texas urges the SBOE to uphold its responsibility to maintain respectful, fact-based discussion and to ensure that curriculum decisions reflect scholarly consensus rather than political hostility toward marginalized communities.
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.
END
CONTACT: Shaimaa Zayan, CAIR-Austin Operations Manager, szayan@cair.com, 512-785-7105; Mustafaa Carroll, CAIR-DFW Executive Director, mcarroll@cair.com, 469-531-3844; Sameeha Rizvi, CAIR Austin Civic Engagement Organizer, srizvi@cair.com, 512-893-1371
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