A jury in the U.S. state of Illinois has found a 73 year old man guilty of murder and hate crimes after he killed a six-year-old Muslim boy and wounded his mother.
Joseph Czuba, 73, was charged in the fatal stabbing of Wadee Alfayoumi, a Palestinian American, and wounding his mother, Hanan Shaheen, on October 14, 2023 in Plainfield, 40 miles southwest of Chicago.
The crime happened in Czuba’s home where the victims had been renting two rooms.
Prosecutors said Czuba targeted the family because of their Islamic faith and in response to the Israeli-Palestinian war that began one week earlier on October 7.
On October 14, 2023, the Will County Sheriff’s Police responded to the residence in Plainfield after Hanan Shaheen called 911 indicating the defendant, Joseph Czuba was killing her baby with a knife.
Upon arrival, police located the victim, Wadee Alfayoumi (age 6) unresponsive lying on a bed with multiple stab wounds to the chest and a knife in his abdomen.
Deputies made contact with Wadee’s mother, Hanan who had multiple stab wounds from the defendant.
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On the day of the attack, the defendant forced his way into Hanan’s bedroom and attacked her with a large knife. Hanan was able to lock herself into the bathroom where she waited for help.
While Hanan was in the bathroom, the defendant proceeded to attack Wadee stabbing him 26 times until he succumbed to his injuries.
In the days leading up to the fatal altercation, the defendant expressed concern over the Hamas/Israel conflict and had asked Hanan to move out because she and Wadee were Muslim.
Czuba is eligible for a mandatory prison sentence of 20 to 60 years to be served at 100% or discretionary life.
The boy’s father spoke at a news conference after Czuba was convicted.
“I don’t know if I should be pleased or upset, if I should be crying or laughing,” said Odai Alfayoumi. “People are telling me to smile. Maybe if I were one of you, I would be smiling, but I’m the father of the child and I’ve lost the child. And I feel like this decision came a little too late.”
Because of the large Palestinian community in the Chicago area, the case generated headlines around the world and prompted the U.S. Justice Department to launch a federal hate crimes investigation.
In a statement, Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) National Executive Director Nihad Awad said: “We believe justice has been done in this horrible case of bigoted anti-Muslim, anti-Palestinian views being turned into violent actions targeting an innocent child. But no guilty verdict, however just, will bring Wadee back to life.
“The misinformation and dehumanisation of the Palestinians by our political leaders and the media led to the brutal murder of little Wadee and the injuring of his mother. Islamophobia kills.
“Let all those who promote Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian racism and all other forms of bigotry see what happens to anyone who would turn their hate-filled views into deadly violence.”
CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehabsaid added: “All the way up to the President of the United States at the time, President Biden — there was culpability. When the president came out and reiterated unfounded claims that 40 babies were decapitated, that they were basically beheaded by Palestinians — this was part of the radicalisation process of Joseph Czuba. That’s what he was reacting to, these unfounded claims…
“The way that the media covered the conflict, showing only one side of what was happening, and not at all showing the humanity, suffering, and the reality of the Gazans on the ground who were losing life, limb, property, infrastructure, houses, by the tens of thousands.”
Czuba’s sentencing is scheduled for May 2.
