Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair shared a daring, highly effective message throughout Monday’s AFC Wild Card recreation towards the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Texans defeated the Steelers 30-6, however followers observed the phrases “STOP THE GENOCIDE” displayed throughout Al-Shaair’s eye black on his face, referencing the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.
Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair wrote “cease the genocide” on his eye black. pic.twitter.com/lCo9TuxBwA
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) January 13, 2026
Azeez Al-Shaair shared a pro-Palestine message in late 2024
In late 2024, Al-Shaair, who’s a religious Muslim, participated within the NFL’s My Cause, My Cleats marketing campaign. As The Mirror reported, the phrase “FREE” in Palestinian colours appeared on his cleats, together with the next message: “Surely to Allah we belong and to him we’ll all return.”
The 28-year-old athlete’s different cleat displayed the reported variety of Palestinians killed and injured within the Israel–Gaza battle. The cleats raised cash for Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.
“I really feel prefer it’s one thing that’s attempting to be virtually silenced,” Al-Shaair informed the Houston Chronicle on the time, in response to The Mirror.
“[Other people] attempt to make a disconnect and dehumanize individuals over there,” he continued. “And it’s like, they’re human beings. Being a Muslim, we see all people the identical; Black, White, Spanish, no matter you’re; you will be orange, like, we’re all human beings.”
Azeez Al-Shaair was born right into a Muslim household
A lifelong Muslim, Al-Shaair fasts throughout Ramadan, a Muslim holy month that requires fasting (members can not drink water) from daybreak to sundown. The function of Ramadan is to get nearer to God and to realize empathy for the much less lucky.
Fasting in the course of the day poses additional challenges for the linebacker since soccer is such a bodily demanding sport. Still, he pushes by means of the starvation.
“It’s actually humbling, not having the ability to eat or drink something all through the daytime and nonetheless having to stay your common life,” Al-Shaair stated again in 2018, per University Press. “It actually places it into perspective, how some individuals actually wrestle in actual life … offers you a special appreciation.”
Despite their totally different faiths, Al-Shaair and Texans defensive finish Will Anderson Jr., who’s a Christian, are extremely shut.
“I’m a Christian by means of and thru, however I additionally suppose it’s crucial to see how different individuals … suppose and the way they really feel about sure issues,” Anderson stated, TSN reported.
Al-Shaair famous, “I’m open about my religion and I exploit my religion and the issues I’ve skilled in conversations with guys and the identical for him. So, each time we talked we have been all the time hitting on the identical cylinder, like dang that’s precisely how I really feel … so, I really feel prefer it simply labored out completely.”
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