The murder of the Faruqis (Isma'il Raji al-Faruqi and Lois Lamya al-Faruqi) occurred on May 27, 1986, at their home in Wyncote, Pennsylvania, United States. Ismail Raji al-Faruqi was a prominent Islamic scholar, and his wife, Lois Lamya (née Lois Rachel Ibsen), was a respected art historian who made significant contributions to ethnomusicology.[1] The crime drew significant attention due to the couple's academic prominence and the brutality of the attack.[2]
| Murder of the Faruqis | |
|---|---|
 Shared grave of the Faruqis | |
| Location | Wyncote, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Coordinates | 40°05′15″N 75°08′40″W / 40.0876364°N 75.1443599°W |
| Date | May 27, 1986 Around 2:00 AM (EST) |
Attack type | Double homicide |
| Injured | 1 (Anmar el-Zein) |
| Victims | Ismail al-Faruqi Lois Lamya al-Faruqi |
| Perpetrators | Joseph Louis Young (Yusuf Ali) |
| Motive | Potential political motivations, personal vendetta, or robbery gone wrong |
| Verdict | Guilty |
| Convictions | Joseph Louis Young sentenced to death (died in prison of natural causes before execution) |
| Charges | Murder |
Background
editIsma'il Raji al-Faruqi was a distinguished professor of religion at Temple University, known for his extensive work in Islamic studies and interfaith dialogue. Lois Lamya al-Faruqi was an American scholar and expert on Islamic art and music. She co-authored The Cultural Atlas of Islam with her husband, making significant contributions to the understanding of Islamic musical culture.[3] Their work in promoting interfaith dialogue and understanding was significant, influencing many scholars and students in the field.[4]
Crime and investigation
editOn the evening of May 26, 1986, Ismail al-Faruqi attended an iftar meal with the local chapter of the Muslim Students Association (MSA) and returned home at around 11:00 PM.[3] In the early morning of May 27, 1986, al-Faruqi and his wife were found with multiple stab wounds in their home.[5][3][6]
Al-Faruqi's body was discovered in his bedroom, while Lois Lamya al-Faruqi's body was found at the foot of the stairs.[3] Their 27-year-old daughter, Anmar el-Zein, who was eight months pregnant, was also stabbed multiple times during the attack[6][5] but managed to call the police.[7] She required 200 stitches for wounds to her chest and arms.[3] A 15-inch survival-type knife found near al-Faruqi's body was identified as the murder weapon.[5][8][9] The crime scene indicated a break-in and a violent struggle.[3][10]
The Cheltenham Township Police Department led the investigation, with the FBI assisting due to al-Faruqi's prominence.[5][9] Anmar el-Zein described the attacker as a stocky black man with a "pot belly" wearing a black bandana.[9] Initial theories suggested the murders might have been politically motivated due to al-Faruqi's outspoken views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and his association with the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.[3][9]
Legal proceedings
editArrest and charges
editIn January 1987, Joseph Louis Young, also known as Yusuf Ali, was identified as the primary suspect. A fingerprint match on a bloody surgical glove found at the scene led to Young's arrest.[8][11] Additionally, a stolen 1986 Grey Honda Accord LX was found with bloodstains, providing forensic evidence linking the crime to Young.[8]
Earlier, detectives in Montgomery County had received an anonymous phone call suggesting they compare the latent fingerprints found at the scene of the crime with those of Young. The fingerprints were matched, leading to Young's identification as a suspect.[8]
Young, who had a criminal history and knew the al-Faruqi family, confessed to the crime during questioning by Philadelphia detectives, providing information that matched the evidence.[7] He repeated his confession in the presence of Montgomery County police officers.[8]
Trial
editThe trial of Joseph Louis Young began in July 1987.[12] During the proceedings, the prosecution presented substantial evidence linking Young to the crime, including his fingerprints on a glove found at the scene and testimony from surviving witness Anmar el-Zein, who recounted the traumatic events of the night.[7] The defence argued that Young's confession was coerced and suggested possible accomplices, also citing extreme emotional disturbance to question his mental state at the time of the crime.[13]
On July 10, 1987, the jury found Joseph Louis Young guilty of two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Isma'il and Lois Lamya al-Faruqi. The jury also convicted him of attempted murder, burglary, criminal trespass, and aggravated assault. Following a separate sentencing hearing, the jury returned a verdict of death for each murder conviction, citing the aggravating circumstances that outweighed any mitigating factors.[13][14]
Appeals and resentencing
editYoung's initial appeal led to affirming his convictions but a remand for resentencing due to issues with the original sentencing instructions. In 1990, a resentencing hearing was held[8], and once again, the jury returned a death sentence for each murder conviction, confirming the existence of four aggravating circumstances.[14]
Aftermath
editYoung died of natural causes in prison in 1996, before the execution could be carried out.[15]
Various theories about the murders' motivations persisted. Some speculated a politically motivated assassination due to Ismail Raji al-Faruqi's scholarly work, while others considered a personal vendetta.[16][17] Despite extensive investigation, the precise motive remained unclear.[2] The case received extensive media attention, highlighting the crime's brutality and the subsequent investigation and trial.[2][10]
In 2011, the house where the murders occurred was put up for sale, drawing further media interest due to its violent history.[18]
Funeral and burial
editOn May 30, 1986, nearly 4,000 mourners, including international dignitaries, gathered in the Masjid Muhammad mosque in West Philadelphia to honor al-Faruqi and his wife, Lois. The service included eulogies from speakers who remembered al-Faruqi as a significant figure and community member. Imam Shamsud-din Ali led prayers, recognizing their contributions to the community[6].
The mosque was attended by friends, associates, and community members, many in traditional attire. The service included Arabic sayings, prayers, and readings from the Qur'an. Many students and local community members were present.[6]
Following the prayer service, the Faruqis were buried together at Forest Hills Cemetery in Lower Moreland Township, Pennsylvania.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Faruqi, Ismail Raji al- (1986)". The Oxford Dictionary of Islam. Oxford Reference. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
- ^ a b c "Assassination motive behind al-Faruqi killings". New Straits Times. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. August 20, 1986. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Fletcher, Charles D. (2015). Muslim-Christian Engagement in the Twentieth Century: The Principles of Interfaith Dialogue and the Work of Isma'il al-Faruqi. I.B. Tauris. p. 213.
- ^ Yusuf, Imtiyaz (2022). "Ismail Al Faruqi". In Fleet, Kate; Krämer, Gudrun; Matringe, Denis; Nawas, John; Rowson, Everett (eds.). Encyclopaedia of Islam. Vol. 3. Koninklijke Brill NV.
- ^ a b c d AP (May 28, 1986). "AROUND THE NATION; Islamic Scholar and Wife Slain in Pennsylvania". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 23, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Eshleman Jr., Russell E. (May 31, 1986). "4,000 Mourners Pray For The Soul Of Slain Islamic Scholar And Wife". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ a b c O'Bryan, Ruth (July 8, 1987). "Confession Details Stalking, Slaying Of Islamic Scholars". The Morning Call. Archived from the original on July 2, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Joseph Louis Young, a/k/a Yusuf Ali (Court case). Vol. 524 Pa. 373. 1990.
- ^ a b c d "FBI Joins Probe Into Murder of Islamic Scholar, Wife". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. May 28, 1986. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
- ^ a b Toth, Anthony B. (November 1986). "Focus on Arabs and Islam". Washington Report on Middle East Affairs.
- ^ "Fingerprint led to arrest of al-Faruqi murder suspect". UPI Archives. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. January 17, 1987. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
- ^ "Black Muslim Charged in Slaying of Islamic Scholar and His Wife". The New York Times. January 18, 1987.
- ^ a b "A jury Friday sentenced Joseph Young to death in..." UPI. July 11, 1987. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
- ^ a b Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Joseph Louis Young (aka Yusuf Ali) (Court case). Vol. 536 Pa. 57. 1993.
- ^ Bell, Adam (March 11, 1996). "Inside the Capitol (Joseph Louis Young dies of natural causes on death row)". The Patriot News.
- ^ "Faruqi murders may have been vendetta". UPI Archives. July 30, 1986.
- ^ "Zionist backlash against Arab intellectuals". New Straits Times. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. August 21, 1986. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ "Creepy! Philly Family Tries to Sell House Where Couple Was Slashed to Death". ABC News. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. October 27, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2024.