In Plainfield, Illinois, a horrifying incident unfolded as 6-year-old Palestinian-American Wadea Al-Fayoume was brutally stabbed to death, while his mother, Hanaan Shahin, sustained severe injuries. The motive behind this tragic act, as confirmed by the Will County Sheriff’s Office, was religious and ethnic discrimination. The victims were targeted due to their Muslim identity and the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict.

The family is devastated by the loss of young Wadea, who was just like any other child, full of joy and playfulness. They emphasize that they were living in the United States, a nation known for peace, and call for empathy and understanding.

Joseph Czuba, their landlord, has been charged with first-degree murder, and the attack has been classified as a hate crime. President Joe Biden expressed his condemnation of this hateful act, recognizing the family’s pursuit of a peaceful life in the United States.