In a disturbing incident that unfolded in Illinois, a 71-year-old man with anti-Muslim sentiments violently attacked a 6-year-old boy, inflicting 26 stab wounds and seriously injuring the child’s mother.
This shocking episode occurred on a Sunday, coinciding with the persistent anti-Muslim rhetoric from US politicians and media outlets amidst the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, particularly in the beleaguered Gaza Strip.
According to Reuters, authorities and Muslim advocates have labeled the assailant’s actions as hate crimes, highlighting the gravity of the situation. The attacker reportedly yelled, “You Muslims must die!” during the assault.
The Will County Sheriff’s Office released a statement indicating that detectives established the victims were specifically targeted because of their Muslim identity and the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict, involving both Hamas and Israelis.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) pointed to the dangerous influence of Islamophobic rhetoric perpetuated by politicians and the media, linking it to the motivations behind this heinous crime.
