Murder of Wadea al-Fayoume

Common card · No. 266341

On October 14, 2023, Wadea al-Fayoume (Arabic: وديع الفيوم, romanized: Wadīʿa al-Fayyūm), a six-year-old Palestinian-American boy, was murdered by 71-year-old Joseph Czuba in Plainfield Township, Illinois, United States. His mother, Hanaan Shahin, was also stabbed and throttled, leaving her critically injured. The murder was a hate crime motivated by Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism in reaction to the contemporaneous Gaza war. The murder led to several statements and condemnations from government officials and organizations. A fundraiser was organized to give Shahin safe housing, covering fees for the funeral and hospitalization, and establishing a charity in al-Fayoume's name. A vigil was held for him shortly after his death. Czuba, who was Shahin's landlord, was arrested and charged with five counts. His trial was February 24–28, 2025. He was convicted of all charges, including murder and hate crimes. On May 2, 2025, he was sentenced to 53 years in prison. Czuba died in prison...

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