England cricket team all-rounder Moeen Ali has been disciplined for wearing wristbands that read “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine”, while batting during England’s first innings on during the third test between England and India.
Moeen Ali, a look alike of South African Cricket team skipper Hashem Amla both sporting long beards, is a practising Muslim of Pakistani descent. He has also been helping raise funds for Gaza relief efforts in his home city of Birmingham in central England.
Meanwhile Malaysian cyclist Azizulhasni Awang at the Commonwealth Games was warned for wearing gloves bearing the message “Save Gaza”. Mr Awang insisted his message was “humanitarian” rather than politically charged,
Lookalike Hashem Amla (left) and Moeen Ali (right)
It is beyond belief that these two athletes faced disciplinary measures for showing the courage to express their support for a people suffering the most brutal oppression at the hands of a murderous regime.
Israel’s actions are far worse than South Africa’s in the days of apartheid. South Africa was eventually brought to heel by international sanctions including sporting sanctions and protests.
Back then supporters of South Africa claimed that sport should be free of politics as if sports people are unthinking robots not entitled to express an opinion about human rights violations. This is not a protest about an unpopular tax.It is a protest about a pariah state carrying out the most murderous campaign of terror against a defenseless people. Everyone, sports people included have a right to protest. Disciplining them for doing so only supports Israel and its crimes against humanity