Illinois Man Sentenced to 53 Years for Hate Crime Murder of Muslim Child and Attempted Murder of His Mother

Wadea Al Fayoume's father, Oday Al Fayoume, right, and his uncle Mahmoud Yousef attend a vigil for Wadea in Plainfield, Illinois, in October 2023.

Joseph Czuba, a 73-year-old Illinois landlord, has been sentenced to 53 years in prison for the brutal hate crime that killed 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and severely injured the boy’s mother, Hanan Shaheen. The attack occurred in October 2023 in Plainfield, a suburb of Chicago, and was fueled by Czuba’s anti-Muslim animus in response to the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas.

Czuba was convicted in February on charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and committing a hate crime. Prosecutors proved that he specifically targeted the Palestinian American family because of their Islamic faith. At the time of the attack, the victims were renting rooms in Czuba’s home. Evidence presented in court showed that Czuba had grown increasingly agitated over the Israel-Gaza conflict and directed his anger at his tenants.

During the sentencing hearing, the child’s great-uncle, Mahmoud Yousef, addressed the court, stating that no prison term could undo the loss or bring justice equivalent to the life stolen. He said Wadee’s parents had dreams for their son, which Czuba destroyed in a single violent act. Yousef confronted Czuba in court, asking what news he had seen or heard that pushed him to carry out such a vicious attack. Czuba remained silent and offered no explanation.

The jury was presented with graphic crime scene photos, police bodycam footage, and the chilling 911 call made by Shaheen. The images were so disturbing that the judge turned the screens away from the public gallery, which included the child’s grieving relatives. Shaheen testified that Czuba stabbed her and then turned on her son, repeating that they needed to leave because they were Muslim. According to police reports, Czuba used a knife from a belt holder and stabbed the boy 26 times, leaving the weapon lodged in the child’s body.

Joseph Czuba, 71, stands before Circuit Judge Dave Carlson for his arraignment at the Will County, Ill., courthouse, Oct. 30, 2023, in Joliet, Ill.

Will County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Fitzgerald described how the boy was defenseless and had no chance of escaping. The trial also featured testimony from Czuba’s ex-wife, Mary Czuba, who said he had become enraged about the Gaza war in the days leading up to the attack.

The crime has deeply shaken communities in and around Plainfield, which is home to a significant Palestinian population. The attack has reignited fears over rising Islamophobia in the United States. Civil rights groups and local leaders have condemned the act as a tragic reminder of the dangers of hate-fueled rhetoric and violence.

Joseph Czuba was found guilty of a hate crime for the fatal stabbing of a six-year-old Muslim boy

Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Chicago, said, “No sentence can restore what was taken, but today’s outcome delivers a necessary measure of justice. Wadee was an innocent child. He was targeted because of who he was – Muslim, Palestinian, and loved.”

In addition to the state-level criminal proceedings, the U.S. Department of Justice has opened a federal hate crimes investigation into the case. Civil lawsuits related to the child’s death are also ongoing.