NFL Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair Honoring Slain Palestinian Children Despite League Fines

Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has continued his efforts to raise awareness for slain Palestinian children by wearing eye black bearing the name of Wafaa Akila during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Akila was an eight-year-old girl killed by Israeli forces in Gaza. This follows a previous fine of $11,941 issued by the NFL after Al-Shaair wore the name of Hind Rajab on his eye black during a match against the Buffalo Bills, breaching the league’s code of conduct on player equipment.

Basketball player Kyrie Irving stepped in to cover the fine, which Al-Shaair later confirmed. Dismissing concerns over the financial penalty, Al-Shaair told reporters that a life is priceless. Wafaa Akila lost her life alongside her father on September 6, the first day of school, when an Israeli drone struck their car in western Gaza. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, ongoing attacks have heavily impacted education in the region, with thousands of children killed since October 7, 2023.

Al-Shaair, a Black American Muslim player, has consistently used his platform to highlight the plight of Palestinians, facing previous fines including one in January for displaying the message "Stop The Genocide." Prominent figures such as American Muslim scholar Omar Suleiman have voiced strong support for Al-Shaair's actions, praising his commitment to honoring Palestinian children despite disciplinary measures from the NFL.