A court in the US state of Illinois has convicted 73-year-old Joseph Czuba for the murder of six-year-old Palestinian-American boy Wadea Al-Fayoumi and the brutal assault of his mother, Hanan Shaheen, in what prosecutors have described as a hate-driven attack. The incident, which occurred in Plainfield, Illinois, just days after the 7 October 2023 escalation in Gaza, has been labelled one of the most horrific anti-Muslim hate crimes in recent US history.

Czuba, the landlord of the property rented by Shaheen and her son, allegedly stabbed the young boy 26 times with an 18 cm serrated military knife. Hanan Shaheen, who sustained multiple stab wounds during the attack, testified in court that Czuba shouted, “You Muslims must die,” before carrying out the assault. The case has sent shockwaves through the Palestinian and Muslim communities in the US, with many pointing to a sharp rise in Islamophobic and anti-Arab sentiment following the events of 7 October. Human rights advocates have warned of a disturbing trend of hate crimes targeting individuals perceived to be of Middle Eastern descent.

In a chilling 911 call played during the trial, Shaheen was heard pleading for help, saying, “The landlord is killing me and my child.” The recording, presented by prosecutor Michael Fitzgerald, underscored the brutality of the attack and the clear racial and religious animus behind it. The murder of Wadea Al-Fayoumi is not an isolated incident. In recent months, there have been numerous reports of attacks targeting Palestinian and Arab communities across the US. These include the attempted drowning of a three-year-old Palestinian-American girl in Texas, the stabbing of a Palestinian-American man in the same state, and a surge in harassment, vandalism, and threats against mosques, Arab-owned businesses, and individuals.

As Czuba awaits sentencing in May, where he faces a mandatory life sentence without parole, Palestinian and Muslim advocacy groups are urging US authorities to take stronger action against hate crimes. They argue that the rise in Islamophobia and anti-Arab sentiment is fuelled by inflammatory rhetoric and misinformation surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Wadea’s death has become a rallying cry for those demanding greater protection for marginalised communities and a renewed commitment to combating bigotry in all its forms. His story, tragically cut short, serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of hatred and the urgent need for unity in the face of division.