An Illinois grand jury has indicted Joseph Czuba, 71, on eight counts, including murder, attempted murder, and a hate crime following the fatal stabbing of Wadea Al-Fayoume, 6, and the severe wounding of his mother, Hanaan Shahin, on Oct. 14. The attack was believed to be motivated by the victims’ Muslim faith. Shahin, who is recovering from multiple stab wounds, stated that Czuba, their landlord in Plainfield, Will County, assaulted them after discussions regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. She had suggested to him to “pray for peace.”
Shahin, in a statement via the Chicago Council on American-Islamic Relations, described her son as her best friend and appealed for peace. This incident highlights a growing trend of hostility towards Muslims and Palestinians in the U.S. following tensions in the Middle East.
