PRESS STATEMENT: CAIR-Chicago Welcomes Sentencing of Joseph Czuba in the Hate Crime Murder of Palestinian American Muslim Wadee Al Fayoumi
- For Immediate Release and Distribution -
(CHICAGO, IL, 5/2/25) – The Chicago Office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the sentencing of Joseph Czuba for the hate crime murder of 6-year-old Palestinian American Muslim boy Wadee Al Fayoumi.
The sentence — 53 years in prison, including 30 years for Wadee’s murder (to be served at 100%), 20 years for the attempted murder of Wadee’s mother, Hanan Shahin, and 3 years for the hate crime — follows a guilty verdict issued earlier this year for first-degree murder, aggravated battery, and hate crime charges.
“No sentence can restore what was taken, but today’s outcome delivers a necessary measure of justice,” said Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago. “Wadee was an innocent child. He was targeted because of who he was—Muslim, Palestinian, and loved. Our work now is to ensure that no other child suffers from the deadly consequences of hate. As we speak, boys and girls, just like Wadee, are mass murdered weekly in Gaza. But rather than being brought to justice, their killers are protected by the majority of our politicians and whitewashed by much of our media.”
During the sentencing, Wadee’s grandfather addressed the court, stating that Wadee’s father was too emotional to speak. He called on Czuba to explain his actions: “We deserve for Mr. Joseph to explain his act… One stab was not enough. When he sat on top of him, what did he think?” He continued, “What type of news did he hear—on TV, radio, or whatever—that made him do such an unheard-of crime?”
SEE MORE: Chicago Tribune: Joseph Czuba Sentenced in Murder of Wadee Al Fayoumi
Earlier this year, CAIR's national office released its 2025 Civil Rights Report “Unconstitutional Crackdowns,” which reveals that Islamophobia continues to be at an all-time high across the country.
The sentencing coincides with a major policy milestone: The Wadee Resolution has officially passed in the Illinois Senate, with companion legislation introduced in the House. The resolution honors Wadee’s life, condemns the dehumanizing rhetoric that contributed to his murder, and designates September 21, 2025 as Wadee Day in Illinois, aligning with the International Day of Peace for Children.
The resolution was championed by a multiracial coalition of advocates and passed on the final day of Arab American Heritage Month, just ahead of Asian American Heritage Month, as communities rallied in Springfield for Asian American Action Day to call for sanctuary, safety, and belonging.
Amina Barhumi, Advocacy and Policy Lead for the Muslim Civic Coalition said “This resolution is the result of communities coming together to demand sanctuary, safety, and belonging. Wadee’s loss laid bare the deadly impact of dehumanizing rhetoric, and its passage underscores the power of collective advocacy and the strength we build when we stand together.”
A local monument will be erected in memory of Wadee later this summer. Details to be shared soon.
CAIR-Chicago will continue working with partners across Illinois and beyond to turn this moment of mourning into a sustained movement for justice and protection for all.
CAIR-Chicago’s mission is to defend civil rights, fight bigotry, and promote tolerance.
CONTACT: Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago | 202-870-0166 | arehab@cair.com; Hafsa Haider, Communications Coordinator of CAIR-Chicago | 561-317-7509 | hhaider@cair.com