Hate Crime Landlord Dies in Custody After Sentencing
Man convicted of murdering 6-year-old Palestinian American boy, wounding mother, due to religious animus
Joseph Czuba, the landlord who fatally stabbed 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and attacked his mother, Hanan Shaheen, has died while in state custody. Czuba was serving a 53-year sentence for the October 2023 hate crime, which prosecutors linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Attack Motivated by Religious Hatred
The 73-year-old Joseph Czuba targeted the Palestinian American family in their Plainfield, Illinois, home due to their Islamic faith. His conviction followed his guilty plea to murder, attempted murder, and hate crime charges in February. Jurors reportedly deliberated for less than 90 minutes before reaching their verdict, swayed by harrowing testimony and crime scene evidence.
“This depraved killer has died, but the hate is still alive and well.”
— Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Chicago (@cardchicago)
March 1, 2024
Czuba’s wife, Mary Czuba, testified that her husband had become increasingly agitated by the conflict that erupted just days before the attack. She stated he had told the family they needed to move because they were Muslim and not welcome.
“You, as a Muslim, must die.”
—Hanan Shaheen
During the trial, jurors heard the frantic 911 call made by Shaheen and viewed graphic crime scene photos and police videos. Shaheen recounted how Czuba attacked her before turning his attention to her son in another room. Police indicated Czuba stabbed the boy 26 times, leaving the knife embedded in his body.
The incident occurred in Plainfield, a Chicago suburb with a significant Palestinian community. The violence has been linked to a broader rise in anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian sentiment in the U.S. following the Hamas attacks on Israel and subsequent Israeli operations in Gaza.
Data from the Southern Poverty Law Center indicates a notable increase in hate groups and incidents targeting various communities following major geopolitical events, underscoring the broader societal impact of international conflicts on domestic tensions (SPLC, 2023).
The loss of Wadee Alfayoumi deeply affected the local community, with his funeral drawing large numbers and local officials dedicating a park playground in his memory.
