The Australian cricketer, Usman Khawaja, has accused the International Cricket Council (ICC) of double requirements – this time after being denied permission to show the picture of a dove of peace on his bat, in solidarity with Gaza.
What occurred between Khawaja and the ICC?
Khawaja deliberate to point out his help for Palestine by adorning his bat with the picture of the dove accompanied by the message “01: UDHR”, a reference to the primary article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that human rights are common and inalienable.
According to The Australian newspaper, the ICC has refused to permit him to show this message on his bat.
The ICC Code of Conduct forbids gamers from sporting, displaying or conveying messages by way of arm bands or different objects on clothes or gear with out prior approval, particularly for “political, religious or racial” causes.
However, Khawaja and his supporters level out that this rule has not stopped different gamers from displaying such messages prior to now.
For instance, West Indies gamers had been permitted to put on “Black Lives Matter” logos on their shirts throughout a check sequence towards England in 2020.
In a video he posted on Instagram late on the eve of the second check towards Pakistan on the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Monday, Khawaja additionally posted footage of different worldwide gamers displaying non secular symbols and messages on their bats.
He captioned his submit: “Merry Christmas everybody, sometimes you just gotta laugh … #inconsistent #doublestandards.”
Khawaja’s case isn’t the one occasion when the ICC has blocked a participant from displaying such symbols. England’s Moeen Ali was banned from sporting wristbands with the messages, “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine”, throughout a house check towards India in 2014.
Khawaja’s armband and footwear
Pakistan-born Khawaja has made a number of makes an attempt this month to point out his solidarity and help for the individuals in Gaza, the place greater than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli assaults.
On Friday, he mentioned he would contest ICC’s reprimand for sporting a black armband within the first check towards Pakistan in Perth on December 14.
He had initially meant to point out his help by displaying the messages “Freedom is a human right” and “All lives are equal” on his footwear within the colors of the Palestinian flag. He wore these footwear throughout coaching and meant to put on them throughout the check match as properly, however was prevented from doing so. He argued that his message was not political in a video posted on X on December 13.
All Lives are Equal. Freedom is a Human proper. I’m elevating my voice for human rights. For a humanitarian attraction. If you see it some other method. That’s on you… pic.twitter.com/8eaPnBfUEb
— Usman Khawaja (@Uz_Khawaja) December 13, 2023
Khawaja, 37, argued that the armband determination didn’t make sense.
“I told them it was for a personal bereavement. I never ever stated it was for anything else. The shoes were a different matter, I’m happy to say that,” he mentioned at Melbourne Cricket Ground. He didn’t specify particulars in regards to the private bereavement.
Thank you to all those that supported and gave me love this week. It wasn’t unnoticed 💕. Nothing worthwhile is straightforward. History reveals we’re doomed to repeat the errors of our previous. But collectively we are able to struggle for a greater future. 🙏🏾 #freedomisahumanright #alllivesareequal pic.twitter.com/HAhbebDbCT
— Usman Khawaja (@Uz_Khawaja) December 18, 2023
What does the dove of peace signify?
Doves have lengthy been a logo of peace in lots of cultures, together with Palestinian tradition.
The separation wall that divides many communities together with the Palestinian city of Bir Nabala within the occupied West Bank has a number of totally different graffiti symbols painted onto it together with the dove of peace. A bit of the wall runs by way of Bethlehem.
British avenue artist Banksy’s armoured dove is especially celebrated. It includes a white dove sporting a bulletproof vest, carrying an olive department in its beak. This dove could be seen in lots of spots in Palestine.
How have others reacted?
Australian skipper Pat Cummins defended Khawaja, arguing that there is no such thing as a distinction between Khawaja displaying the dove image and his teammate, Marnus Labuschagne, displaying an eagle on his bat as a non secular image.
The Australian crew was sympathetic in the direction of Khawaja’s want to point out his help, mentioned Cummins on Monday.
“I don’t know the ins and outs of the application, but I think it is pretty vanilla, a dove,” he instructed reporters. “We really support Uzzy, I think he’s standing up for what he believes and I think he’s doing it really respectfully,” he mentioned.
“He can hold his head high the way he’s gone about it, but there’s rules in place, so I believe the ICC have said they’re not going to approve that. They make up the rules and you’ve got to accept it.”
Cricket Australia mentioned in an announcement that Khawaja had a proper to precise his opinion however they anticipated him to evolve to the ICC guidelines banning shows on his taking part in gear.
Australia’s sports activities minister, Anika Wells, gave Khawaja her full backing.
“Usman Khawaja is a great athlete and a great Australian. He should have every right to speak up on matters that are important to him,” she mentioned.
“He has done so in a peaceful and respectful way. He has done so as an individual and expressed an individual opinion that does not compromise the Australian cricket team’s obligations to the ICC.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/26/why-has-cricketer-khawaja-been-barred-from-showing-solidarity-with-gaza?traffic_source=rss
