A father who committed an ‘honour killing’ by murdering his 18-year-old daughter has been sentenced to 30 years in jail, although he is currently evading authorities. Khaled al Najjar, who is now a fugitive in Syria, was convicted in absentia for the killing of his daughter, Ryan al Najjar. His two sons, Mohamed, 23, and Muhanad, 25, received 20-year prison terms each for their involvement in their sister’s death.
The court revealed that Ryan was tied up and asphyxiated with 18 meters of duct tape before being drowned in a shallow pool at a national park in Lelystad, located about 25 miles northeast of Amsterdam, six days after she was reported missing in May 2024. Her father’s DNA was discovered on the duct tape and under her fingernails, indicating that she was still alive when she was submerged.
After the murder, Khaled, 53, fled to northern Syria, where he remarried. He confessed to killing his daughter in a letter to a newspaper, absolving his sons of any involvement. However, prosecutors rejected his claims, alleging that both brothers played a role in Ryan’s death.
During the trial, it was revealed that Ryan was killed because she rejected the strict Islamic principles of her upbringing while living in Joure, Friesland. Prosecutors described her as a burden that needed to be eliminated, noting that the incident was triggered by a TikTok video showing Ryan without a headscarf and wearing makeup.
Prosecutors depicted a chilling scenario of Ryan’s final moments, emphasizing the fear she must have experienced being left alone in darkness in an isolated location. Prior to her death, Ryan had been placed in care multiple times since 2022 and had reported threats and assaults by her father and brothers to the police.
Although the two brothers denied involvement in their sister’s death, labeling their father as a “psychopath” and a “monster,” evidence presented in court suggested their complicity in covering up the crime by deleting incriminating content from Ryan’s phone and urging family members to erase chat records.
Of the three men, only Muhanad attended the sentencing hearing, as Mohamed opted to stay in custody rather than appear in court. Following the verdict, Muhanad vowed to clear his name, with his lawyer planning to appeal on the grounds of lack of direct evidence linking him to the crime.
The likelihood of Khaled serving his sentence is uncertain, as there is no extradition agreement between Syria and the Netherlands, making his voluntary return to the country improbable.