Video shows group of Muslim students being harassed while praying at a North Texas park

In the video, the man can be heard yelling “disgusting fake religion” and “wicked devils” towards the UT Dallas students as they prayed.

PLANO, Texas — Before sunrise Sunday morning, Oak Point Park was quiet. Dozens of University of Texas at Dallas students gathered in the dark, laying out prayer mats and preparing for what they call a “Barakah Breakfast”, a spiritual gathering held just before the start of Ramadan.

“It’s called Barakah Breakfast, and we timed it right before our holy month of Ramadan,” said Muhammad Hingora, who attended the event.

About 50 students attended the early-morning prayer and reflection for those observing Islam. Barakah means blessing and the purpose was simple: community, faith and preparation for a sacred month.

But shortly after the gathering began, that peace was interrupted. Hingora said a man who was not part of the group approached them and began yelling.

“For a second I’m just standing there looking at him like…this can’t be a real moment right now,” Hingora said.

He pulled out his phone and began recording. Hingora says the man was wearing a GoPro camera strapped to his chest and a hoodie with derogatory language about Islam.

“This guy with a GoPro strapped to his chest, he has his phone on, he’s wearing a hoodie with some derogatory things about Islam on it,” he said.

Video from the scene captures the confrontation, as students continued their gathering despite the disruption.

In the video, the man can be heard yelling “disgusting fake religion” and “wicked devils”.

“When I saw it, I thought it was just… it was sad in a way,” said Mustafaa Carroll, executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations-Dallas Fort Worth (CAIR-DFW).

“My concern is if somebody does that, then what’s next?” Carroll said.

Plano police say they are aware of the video and the situation. As of now, officers say they have not received an official police report. CAIR-DFW says it plans to file one.

Carroll is also calling on city leaders to publicly condemn the behavior.

Despite the confrontation, Hingora said no one engaged with the man. The group stayed focused on why they were there.

“We just kept praying,” he said.

“I can’t fathom someone having that much hate in my heart toward someone.”

Hingora said he hopes sharing the video sends a broader message, not just about what happened that morning, but about how communities respond.

“We just have to be kinder to each other,” he said.