Two fans were booted from Perth Stadium after displaying a sign with Usman Khawaja’s message of peace, along with chanting pro-Palestinian slogans, during the fourth day of the first Test between Australia and Pakistan.
News Corp reported a white banner which read “ALL LIVES ARE EQUAL. FREEDOM IS A HUMAN RIGHT”, written in the green, red and black of the Palestine flag, was draped over the top tier of the Justin Langer stand while Khawaja was batting.
Khawaja attempted to wear the message on his shoes for this Test but was banned from doing so by the ICC under their rules around political messaging.
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He argued the message, which did not mention a side of the Palestine-Israel conflict, was “humanitarian”.
On Sunday the banner was shown for at least 10 to 15 minutes before being confiscated.
The fans were also removed from the venue but this was due to “anti-social behaviour”, with reports they were shouting “Free Palestine” before leaving peacefully.
“A sign was removed because it contravened Cricket Australia’s terms and conditions of entry. Some patrons were removed because of anti-social behaviour, not because of the sign,” a stadium spokesperson said.
Khawaja wore a black armband in response to the ban on his message.
“Players and team officials shall not be permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey personal messages on their clothing, equipment or otherwise, irrespective of whether such messages are affixed to clothing, equipment or otherwise and whether such messages are displayed or conveyed through the use of the specific clothing or other items (e.g. an arm band) or by the use of words, symbol, graphic message, images or otherwise (“Personal Messages”), unless approved in advance by both the player or team official’s board and the ICC cricket operations department,” the ICC rules state.
“Approval shall not be granted for messages which relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes.”
Last week the Australian government backed a UN vote for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire from Israel’s attack on Gaza.
Around 20,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war with the UN estimating 85 per cent of Gaza’s inhabitants have been displaced.
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