A man convicted of murdering his 18-year-old daughter in an ‘honour killing’ has been sentenced to 30 years in prison, despite currently being a fugitive in Syria. Khaled al Najjar was found guilty in absentia for the killing of Ryan al Najjar, while his two sons, Mohamed, 23, and Muhanad, 25, were each given 20-year prison terms for their involvement in their sister’s death.
Evidence presented in court revealed that Ryan had been restrained and drowned in a shallow pool using duct tape in a national park near Amsterdam. Traces of her father’s DNA were discovered on the tape, indicating his involvement in the crime. Shockingly, it was revealed that Ryan was still alive when she was submerged in the water.
Following the murder, Khaled fled to Syria, where he remarried and confessed to the killing in a letter to a newspaper. However, prosecutors rejected his claims, arguing that both sons were complicit in the crime. The court heard that Ryan was targeted due to her rejection of her strict Islamic upbringing and a TikTok video that went against her family’s beliefs.
Prosecutors described the harrowing circumstances of Ryan’s death, highlighting the fear and isolation she experienced. Despite the brothers denying any direct involvement, the court heard of their attempts to cover up the crime by deleting evidence from Ryan’s phone and asking relatives to destroy chat records.
While Muhanad attended the sentencing hearing and vowed to clear his name, Mohamed remained in custody. Khaled’s extradition to the Netherlands is unlikely, as there is no current treaty between the two countries.