Usman Khawaja On The ICC’s Threat Regarding The “Gaza Message”

Usman Khawaja, an Australian batter, gained significant attention on social media with the appearance of images of his shoes bearing a phrase related to the Palestine issue. On the opening day of the first Test match between Pakistan and Australia in Perth, Khawaja was allegedly going to wear the shoe with the same statement, but he was advised against it due to “ICC rules.” Although Khawaja has complied with the instruction, he insists that the phrase scrawled on his sneaker was not political.

 

The words “All lives are equal” and “Freedom is a human right” were written on two of Khawaja’s sneakers. However, the ICC may have punished the seasoned hitter if he had chosen to wear the same slogans throughout the game.

On the eve of the Perth Test, Khawaja kept his position and said in a video he posted on social media that he is not endorsing one side in the Israel vs. Hamas conflict, but rather that all lives, whether they are Muslim, Jewish, or Hindu, are equally valuable to him.

“What I’ve written on my shoes is not political,” he said. “I refuse to choose a side. I see every human life as equal. One life is equal to that of Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and so on. Simply said, I’m standing out for those without a voice.”

Every Life Is Equal. One’s human right is freedom. I’m speaking up in favor of human rights. for the sake of humanity. if you have a different perspective. You are responsible for it. tweet.com/8eaPnBfUEb

— @Uz_Khawaja, Usman Khawaja December 13, 2023
Cricket Australia issued a warning, but Khawaja said that he would

keep fighting for his freedom to voice these opinions. “Isn’t everyone entitled to freedom? Khawaja questioned in the video, “Are all lives not equal?”

“The ICC has told me I can’t wear my shoes on the field because they feel it’s a political statement under their guidelines,” he said. “I don’t think that’s true. It’s a call for humanitarian aid. I will respect their choice and point of view. However, I’m going to battle it and try to win them over,” he said in the video.

It is a human right to be free. Furthermore, every life is equal. Whether you agree with me or not, I will never stop believing that,” he said.