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Houston Texans star Azeez Al-Shaair has once again been fined by the NFL for wearing a political statement on his uniform.
The linebacker had the name 'Hind Rajab' written on his eye black during Sunday's Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills, earning him a $11,492 fine.
Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl, was killed after Israeli forces fired on her family's car in Gaza City in January 2024. She was trapped in a vehicle with her slain relatives, pleading for help by phone before she too was killed.
The killings sparked international fury and prompted Israel's military to launch criminal investigations into troop conduct.
Al-Shaair has divided opponents and fans in recent seasons with both his aggressive play on the field, as well as his vocal support for Palestine in its ongoing conflict with Israel.
In January, Al-Shaair was fined $11,593 by the league for wearing a message, 'stop the genocide,' on his eye black during Houston's playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and while carrying out his postgame interview on ESPN.
Houston Texans star Azeez Al-Shaair has been fined for wearing 'Hind Rajab' on his eye black
It is not the first time Al-Shaair has been punished for breaking rules on political statements
According to the NFL rulebook, players are strictly prohibited from conveying personal or political messages 'either in writing or illustration' unless approved in advance.
The league office states it will not grant permission for messages relating to 'political activities or causes.'
The linebacker, who is Muslim, told reporters back in January: 'I knew that that was a fine. I understood what I was doing.
'But I was told that if I wore that in the game I would be pulled out the game, so I think that was probably the part I was confused about.'
Al-Shaair then continued: 'At the end of the day, it’s bigger than me. The things that are going through makes people uncomfortable, imagine how (Palestinians) feel? That’s the biggest thing.
'I have no affiliation, no connection, to these people – other than the fact that I am a human being. If you have a heart and you’re a human being, and you see what’s going on in this world, you check yourself real quick.
'I’m sitting here crying about football when there’s people dying every single day.'
This isn't the first time that the Texans linebacker has used his platform to speak out on the topic. Al-Shaair previously wore custom cleats supporting Palestinians for the NFL's 'My Cause My Cleats' campaign.
The NFL also punished him for his 'Stop the Genocide' protest in a playoff game in January
Al-Shaair was also spotted wearing pro-Palestine cleats in Texans training in 2024
Those shoes featured the words 'Free Palestine' and 'Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will all return.'
They also displayed the number of Palestinian lives reportedly lost in the war with Israel.
'I feel like it's something that's trying to be almost silenced,' Al-Shaair told the Houston Chronicle at the time.
'On either side, people losing their life is not right,' he added.
'In no way, shape, or form am I validating anything that happened, but to consistently say that because of [Oct. 7] innocent people [in Gaza] should now die, it's crazy.'
In April, the Pro Bowl linebacker agreed to a three-year extension worth $54 million with Houston after an excellent season, where he led the Texans with 103 tackles, while adding two interceptions.
He was also nominated for Walter Payton Man of the Year honors for his charity work in the Houston area, much of which centers on underprivileged youth and his own personal history with homelessness.
In December 2024, Al-Shaair was slapped with a three-game suspension following his sickening hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (pictured)
Al-Shaair has also drawn criticism for his play, which has bordered on 'dirty' according to critics.
In December 2024, Al-Shaair was slapped with a three-game suspension following his sickening hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who was left motionless on the field.
Lawrence was running for a first down and slid to give himself up on the play. Al-Shaair did not pull up and made a vicious hit to his upper body and helmet.
The Jaguars star was eventually carted off with a concussion, while Al-Shaair was ejected from the game.
In a fiery post on social media, he attacked fans, branding those who criticized his hit on Lawrence as 'racist and Islamophobic' and accused reporters of calling him 'every name in the book' – before later issuing an apology.
