US: Mom Of 6-Year-Old Boy Killed In An Alleged Hate Crime Seeks Justice

The mother of Wadea Al-Fayoume, a 6-year-old Palestinian boy who was fatally stabbed in Illinois in an alleged hate crime linked to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, urged the public to "pray for peace" in her first statement since the tragic incident.

Wadea and his mother, 32-year-old Hanan Shaheen, were stabbed repeatedly with a military-style knife in their suburban Chicago residence on October 14 during a confrontation with their  71-year-old landlord, who allegedly targeted them because they were Muslim, according to the Will County Sheriff's Office. This brutal attack resulted in the tragic death of a six-year-old boy and caused severe injuries to the woman.

Shahin has hired civil rights attorney Ben Crump to represent her, reports ABC News. She also asked for prayers for peace from the public.

“Pray for peace,” Shahin said.

“We need many, many prayers for peace. You know, and then God will give us peace. We need to pray for peace.”

"The pain endured by the Al-Fayoume family is immeasurable," her attorney, Ben Crump. said in a statement Tuesday. "No family should have to bear such a devastating loss, compounded by the burden of overwhelming medical bills. We must come together as a society not only to seek justice for Wadea but also to support this grieving family in their time of need."

As reported by The New York Times, investigators detailed a gruesome incident. They reported that a 71-year-old landlord assaulted the boy and his mother, who happened to be his tenants, in their residence within Plainfield Township on the morning of October 14. The attack involved the repeated stabbing of the victims using a serrated knife with a seven-inch blade.

They were allegedly targeted due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East. The landlord, reportedly, started to stab her soon after the victim opened the door. At first, he had attempted to choke her. During the gruesome incident, he kept yelling 'Muslims Must Die!'

According to the police, Wadea suffered 26 stab wounds and was declared deceased upon arrival at the hospital. The boy's mother, aged 32, sustained over a dozen stab wounds and was in a serious condition.

Reportedly, she sought refuge in a bathroom, where she bravely defended herself against the assailant while dialling 911. Relatives have stated that the family belongs to the Palestinian-American community.

Police found the 71-year-old suspect seated upright on the ground close to the home's driveway. The suspect identified as one Joseph M. Czuba, remained silent and did not provide any statements to detectives about his role in this dreadful assault.

Charges & Further Details

The main accused has been charged with murder, two hate crime counts, and additional offences. In a social media statement, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) expressed its shock and concern, stating, "We are deeply disturbed by the news that a Chicago landlord, expressing anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian sentiments, unlawfully entered a Muslim family's apartment and assaulted them with a knife, causing injuries to the mother and the tragic death of her 6-year-old son, Wadea Al-Fayoume."

We are shocked and disturbed to learn that a landlord in Chicago expressing anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian views broke into a Muslim family's apartment and attacked them with a knife, injuring the mother and killing her 6-year-old son, Wadea Al-Fayoume. @cairchicago will hold a… pic.twitter.com/N0ILuevq4n

— CAIR National (@CAIRNational) October 15, 2023

Suburban Chicago is home to a sizable Palestinian-American community, which includes a district housing numerous Arab restaurants and stores often referred to as "Little Palestine." However, the attack occurred in another suburban area of Chicago, within a residence situated along a bustling highway close to a Chevrolet dealership and a barbecue restaurant.

This property, approximately 40 miles southwest of downtown Chicago, was adorned with multiple American flags, an advertisement for organic honey, and a sign urging individuals to pray for the end of abortion.

Israel-Hamas War

The attack on the family came amid the violence between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian organisation governing the Gaza Strip. On October 7, Hamas initiated an unexpected assault on Israel, resulting in the loss of over 1,300 Israeli lives, which led to a vigorous counterattack causing the death of 2,670 individuals in Gaza.

Concerns about the potential expansion of the conflict and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Middle East are growing.

Suggested Reading: Canada: Sikh Student Assaulted In Another Alleged Hate Crime