Basketball star Kyrie Irving has offered to pay the fine imposed on American football player Aziz Al-Sha’ir, who was penalised for using the name Hind Rajab, a Palestinian girl killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.
The National Football League (NFL) fined Al-Sha’ir $11,941 for breaching the uniform regulations during the match between the Houston Texans and the Buffalo Bills.
Following news of the fine, Irving, known for his support for Palestine, stated that he would “look into” the matter.
Al-Shaheer, a 29-year-old running back for the Houston Texans, is an active advocate for Palestinian rights.
In the most recent match, he wrote the name ‘Rajab’ on the black strip under his eye, which players use to reduce glare.
Five-year-old Rajab was killed in Gaza when Israeli soldiers fired on her family’s car. The final moments of her life were filmed and formed the basis of an Oscar-nominated documentary drama.
Al-Shaair, a Black Muslim from the US, often speaks out about the plight of Palestinians and has faced repercussions on more than one occasion.
He was also fined in January of last NFL season for the slogan ‘Stop the Genocide’ on his kit, which many linked to the conflicts in Gaza and Sudan.
Criticism of the NFL over Al-Shaair’s fine
Al-Shaayrouh’s fine coincided with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft putting pressure on Ed Sheeran to exclude rapper Macklemore from his US tour.
Kraft, the owner of Gillette Stadium, where McLemore was due to perform, stated that the rapper’s presence would be unacceptable due to alleged anti-Semitic rhetoric in his performances.
Kraft is known for his “anti-Semitic campaign” during the 2023 Gaza conflict, when his team wore blue badges.
On 15 October 2023, the NFL observed a minute’s silence for Israel during a match in London, whilst Al-Shaayra was fined for drawing attention to the Palestinian cause.
On social media, the NFL came under fire for the fine; one user called it “inhuman” and expressed dissatisfaction that Al-Shaayra had been punished for mentioning the name Hind Rajab.
American Muslim scholar Omar Suleiman wondered whether Al-Shaayra would have been penalised had he mentioned the name of Anne Frank.
The Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) expressed its support for Al-Shaayra for his efforts to defend the Palestinians.
The group’s statement said that the NFL should have no problem with a player mentioning the name of a murdered child, given that coaches wear Kraft’s badges.
Al-Shaair’s statement was based on basic humanity and concern for the lives of innocent people, which should not have led to controversy or fines.
Irving’s pro-Palestinian stance
Nine-time NBA All-Star Irving had previously made his support for Palestine clear during the conflict in Gaza.
In February, Irving wore a T-shirt bearing the word ‘PRESS’ in honour of the journalists killed in Gaza.
His T-shirt read: “Dedicated to our beloved journalists in Gaza, showing the world the truth.”
In April, Irving changed his Instagram profile picture to an image of a Palestinian child who had been barred by soldiers from attending school in the West Bank.
In 2024, he was seen carrying a Palestinian flag, and in 2023, he wore a keffiyeh at a press conference, symbolising Palestinian identity.