The boy named Wadea Al-Fayoume, and his mother, Hanaan Shahin, were attacked by Joseph Czuba, their landlord who barged into their home with a 12-inch serrated knife.
The family had lived on the ground floor of Czuba’s house for two years and had a good relationship with him before the attack.
According to the police, Czuba targeted them because of their Islamic faith and his anger over the violence in Palestine and Israel. He has been charged with murder, attempted murder, hate crimes, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
The incident has sparked outrage and grief among the Muslim and Palestinian communities in Chicago and beyond. Oday Al-Fayoume,the boy’s uncle, urged people to stand against hatred and violence and to support peace and justice for all.
The executive director of CAIR-Chicago, Ahmed Rehab, said that the blame lies not only on the murderer, but also on the hateful atmosphere that has been created by the biased media coverage of the Israel-Hamas war.
