A man convicted of killing his 18-year-old daughter in an ‘honour killing’ and then fleeing the Netherlands has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. Khaled al Najjar, who is currently a fugitive in Syria, received the sentence in absentia for the murder of his daughter, Ryan al Najjar. His two sons, Mohamed, 23, and Muhanad, 25, were present in court and each received a 20-year prison term for their involvement in their sister’s death.
According to court proceedings, Ryan was found bound and gagged with 18 meters of duct tape before being drowned in a shallow pool in a national park in Lelystad, which is roughly 25 miles northeast of Amsterdam, six days after she was reported missing in May 2024. Her hands were tied behind her back, and her ankles were taped together before she was submerged in a swamp within the nature reserve. Traces of her father’s DNA were discovered on the duct tape and under her fingernails, indicating that Ryan was still alive when she was thrown into the water.
After Ryan’s death, Khaled, 53, fled to northern Syria, where he remarried. In a letter to the Telegraaf newspaper, he confessed to killing his daughter but absolved his sons of any involvement. However, prosecutors rejected his claims, asserting that both brothers knowingly played a role in Ryan’s death.
During the trial, it was revealed that Ryan was murdered because she rejected the values of her strict Islamic upbringing while residing in Joure, Friesland. Prosecutors described her as a burden that needed to be eliminated and highlighted that the killing seemed to have been triggered by a TikTok video in which Ryan appeared without a headscarf and makeup.
Prosecutors depicted the chilling final moments of Ryan’s life, emphasizing her fear and isolation during the incident. Prior to her death, Ryan had been under 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 murder, labeling their father as a “psychopath” and a “monster,” the court heard that they participated in concealing the crime by deleting content from Ryan’s phone and instructing family members to erase chat records.
At the sentencing hearing, only Muhanad was present, with Mohamed opting to stay in custody rather than attend. Following the verdict, Muhanad vowed to clear his name, and his lawyer announced plans to appeal, citing a lack of direct evidence linking him to the crime.
Given the absence of an extradition treaty between Syria and the Netherlands, it is unlikely that Khaled will serve his sentence, as he shows no indication of returning voluntarily.