Muslim Group Voices Extreme Anger Over NFL Decision

CAIR-Houston Director of Operations Imran Ghan released a statement to OutKick late Sunday. He said the group strongly opposed the NFL’s decision.

“If the NFL singled out Azeez Al-Shaair for punishment because of his anti-genocide message amid a backlash from the Israeli government’s enablers, then the NFL should apologize and reverse the fine,” Ghan said.

He also pointed to other political messages that the league has allowed.

“The NFL apparently has no problem with coaches wearing pins from Robert Kraft’s ‘Stand Up to Jewish Hate’ campaign, and it should have no problem with an NFL player opposing genocide,” Ghan said. “It should approve the use of the slogan ‘Stop the Genocide’ going forward.”

The group praised Al-Shaair for using his platform.

“We again applaud Houston Texans player Azeez Al-Shaair for using his platform to call for an end to genocide anywhere and everywhere,” Ghan said. “We strongly object to the NFL’s reported decision to fine him for doing so amid pressure from pro-Israel extremists.”

Ghan said the message should not spark punishment.

“Azeez Al-Shaair’s message was rooted in basic human decency and concern for innocent lives,” he said. “That should not be controversial, much less subject to a fine.”

He also questioned the league’s policy.

“If NFL policies truly do require a fine for a player who makes a statement as generic as ‘Stop the Genocide,’ then the NFL needs to revise its policies,” Ghan said.

The NFL has not issued a public response to CAIR-Houston’s statement.

Houston lost to New England on Sunday. The loss ended the Texans’ season.