PRESS STATEMENT: CAIR-Chicago and CAIR Say ‘Justice Has Been Done’ After Guilty Verdict in Hate Murder of Wadee Al Fayoumi
- For Immediate Release and Distribution -
Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago, delivers a poignant khutbah (Islamic sermon) for Salaat-ul-Jummah (Friday prayer) in dedication to Wadee Al Fayoumi, praying for an end to Islamophobic, anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab hate—especially on the eve of the first day of Ramadan. Via Associated Press News.
(CHICAGO, IL, 2/28/25) - The Chicago Office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said “justice has been done” following the conviction of a Plainfield, Illinois, landlord on all counts in the hate crime murder of a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy, Wadee Al Fayoumi, and the stabbing of his mother.
Joseph Czuba was convicted on one count of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated battery, and two counts of hate crime for the 2023 attack.
CAIR-Chicago held a Salaat-ul-Jummah (Islamic Friday prayer), then hosted a live press conference today following the verdict.
CAIR-Chicago stands alongside the Muslim Civic Coalition and Wadee Al Fayoumi’s family at a press conference that went live immediately after the guilty verdict was announced. Via Associated Press News.
At that news conference, CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab said in part:
"All the way up to the President of the United States at the time, President Biden—there was culpability. When the president came out and reiterated unfounded claims that 40 babies were decapitated, that they were basically beheaded by Palestinians—this was part of the radicalization process of Joseph Czuba. That's what he was reacting to, these unfounded claims... The way that the media covered the conflict, showing only one side of what was happening, and not at all showing the humanity, suffering, and the reality of the Gazans on the ground who were losing life, limb, property, infrastructure, houses, by the tens of thousands."
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“We believe justice has been done in this horrible case of bigoted anti-Muslim, anti-Palestinian views being turned into violent actions targeting an innocent child. But no guilty verdict, however just, will bring Wadee back to life.
“The misinformation and dehumanization of the Palestinians by our political leaders and the media led to the brutal murder of little Wadee and the injuring of his mother. Islamophobia kills.
“Let all those who promote Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian racism and all other forms of bigotry see what happens to anyone who would turn their hate-filled views into deadly violence.”
CAIR-Chicago plans to be present for the May 2 sentencing.
CAIR-Chicago’s mission is to defend civil rights, fight bigotry, and promote understanding.
CONTACT:
Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago | 202-870-0166 | arehab@cair.com; Monia Alhelou, Operations Coordinator of CAIR-Chicago | 312-212-1520 | malhelou@cair.com; Hafsa Haider, Communications Coordinator of CAIR-Chicago | 561-317-7509 | hhaider@cair.com