United States: Defendant in Fatal Stabbing of Muslim Child in Illinois Pleads Not Guilty

 

   Joseph Chuba, the accused in the fatal stabbing of a Palestinian-American child in Illinois, pleaded not guilty before a court on October 14th, pushing back against the charges brought against him in a crime linked by the police to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. According to the Will County Sheriff's Office, the suspect targeted his victims "because they were Muslim and due to the ongoing Middle East conflict between Hamas and Israelis." On Monday, a 71-year-old man faced allegations of murdering a Palestinian-American child by stabbing him to death and was acquitted of the charges in the crime that occurred in Illinois, connected by the authorities to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Joseph Chuba faces charges of murder, attempted murder, and hate crimes related to the incident that took place on October 14th, resulting in the death of six-year-old Wadia El-Foum and causing severe injuries to his mother, Hanan Shahin, 32.

Chuba pleaded not guilty to all charges against him during his appearance before an Illinois court on Monday, and the decision was made to extend his detention until January 8th, the date of the next hearing.

According to the Will County Sheriff's Office, the suspect targeted his victims "because they were Muslim and due to the ongoing Middle East conflict between Hamas and Israelis."

It was added that Chuba, who is the landlord where Shahin resides, stabbed the child 26 times.

The family is of Palestinian-American descent, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Chicago.

President Joe Biden condemned the crime, describing it as a "horrific hate crime" that "goes against the values" of the United States.

Biden stated that "the Palestinian Muslim child's family came to the United States in pursuit of what we all seek... a refuge to live, learn, and pray in peace."

He added, "As Americans, we must stand united and reject Islamophobia and all forms of bigotry and hatred."