The ongoing war in the Middle East between Hamas and Israel likely prompted the murder of a 6-year-old boy in unincorporated Plainfield on Saturday.
Joseph Czuba allegedly stabbed Wadea Al-Fayoume, 6, and his mother in the 16200 block of south Lincoln Highway (Route 30) near Lily Cache Road because they are Muslims, according to the Will County Sheriff’s Office.
Al-Fayoume allegedly was stabbed 26 times with a 12-inch serrated military-style knife that has a seven-inch blade and his mother 12 times by Czuba, who is their landlord, according to the Will County Sheriff’s Office. His mother, Hanaan Shahin, 32, remains in the hospital listed in serious condition but is expected to survive, the sheriff’s office said. The boy, who succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital, and his mother had lived in the ground-floor apartment for two years and police believe they were targeted because of their Muslim faith.
Czuba, 71, has been charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and two counts of committing a hate crime at the Plainfield Township home. Czuba appeared in Will County court on Monday but didn’t give a plea. The U.S. Justice Department has also opened a federal hate crime investigation into the stabbing to determine if the suspect violated federal law.
During a press conference Sunday in Chicago, which was streamed on Facebook, Ahmed Rehab, president of the Council of American-Islamic Relations in Chicago, said “Al-Fayoume had no idea he would have to pay for the travesties occurring in the other side of the world.”
“This unthinkable, senseless crime did not happen in a vacuum,” said Rehab, referring to the Islamaphobia that followed the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on U.S. soil. Rehab said the child loved playing basketball, soccer, and coloring.
“What we have is a murdered Palestinian child by someone who is radicalized by the environment in which we live right now that casts Palestinians as human animals,” Rehab added, stating Czuba told the mother and son that “you Muslims must die.”
A funeral service for Al-Fayoume was held Monday at the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview.
Dr. Glenn Wood, superintendent of Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202, said social workers and counselors are on site to help grieving students.
“Our staff will keep a close eye on students for any signs of emotional distress which will be addressed and supported,” he said. “District 202 has done significant work with cultural competency throughout the years, however, emotions can run high in the community in times such as these. While we attempt to focus on what goes on inside our schools, our students are very much impacted by what happens outside of the learning environment.”
Wood said leadership at District 202 is confident that building administration and staff will continue to treat all students with “mutual respect by modeling an inclusive environment in our classrooms and workplaces.”
While she denounces the savage act, Merilee Portiglio of Plainfield said she does not think this will be the last she hears of a crime committed against Muslims or Jews.
“People are devastated by what happened to the Israelis,” said Portiglio. “Emotions are running rampant and this unfortunately brings out the worst in people. These times are so uncertain and unsafe.”
news@thetimesweekly.com
