US President Joe Biden voiced his condemnation on Sunday for the savage killing of a Palestinian-American boy. The youngster was mercilessly stabbed by a 71-year-old man identified as Joseph Czuba.
“Jill and I were shocked and sickened to learn of the brutal murder of a six-year-old child and the attempted murder of the child’s mother in their home yesterday in Illinois,” Biden said in a statement.
“This horrific act of hate has no place in America and stands against our fundamental values: freedom from fear for how we pray, what we believe, and who we are,” he said.
Responding to this harrowing event, President Biden called on the nation to stand firm against Islamophobia and other types of prejudice.
“America should be a place of unity, free from hatred directed at anyone. I’ve consistently voiced that I won’t stand by silently when faced with hate,” he stated.
Offering condolences from the administration, President Biden extended his sympathies to the family of the deceased and wished the injured mother a speedy recovery.
He also addressed the broader communities of Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim Americans, acknowledging their quest for a peaceful existence in the US.
“Like many, this Palestinian Muslim family sought refuge in America, hoping for a sanctuary where they could live, study, and worship without fear,” he remarked.
The motivation behind the violent act, as identified, was the victims’ Islamic faith and ongoing tensions related to the Israel-Palestine situation. Reports from the Will County Sheriff’s Office indicate the young victim, Wadea Al-Fayoume, was stabbed 26 times. His mother, aged 32, sustained over a dozen stab wounds but is on the road to recovery.
The assailant, Czuba, is now facing multiple charges including first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault with a weapon, and two hate crime counts.
