A mother has spoken of her devastation after her husband brutally murdered their 18-year-old daughter in a so-called honour killing, before fleeing the country to avoid justice.
A Brutal Murder in a Dutch Park
Ryan al Najjar was found face down in a shallow pond at the Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve in the Netherlands. Her body was discovered gagged and bound, wrapped in a shocking 18 metres of duct tape. The grim discovery was made just one month after she had celebrated her 18th birthday.
Her father, Khaled al Najjar, was responsible for her drowning. The family had claimed asylum in the Netherlands after fleeing Syria in 2016, building a life there for eight years before it was shattered by this horrific act of violence.
A Family Living in Fear
In an emotional interview, Ryan's mother, Sumaia al Najjar, told the Daily Mail her husband had "destroyed my whole family". She described him as a violently abusive man who terrorised his wife and children. "He used to break things and beat me and his children up, beat all of us," she said.
While the family appeared integrated, Ryan's desire to embrace Western culture became a flashpoint. Bullied at school for wearing her hijab, Ryan began to rebel around the age of 15. "She stopped wearing scarfs and started smoking. She had many friends, boys and girls," her mother explained. Khaled was reportedly enraged by her behaviour, including making TikTok videos and flirting with boys.
One of Ryan's sisters, Iman, 27, corroborated the account of a household dominated by fear. "No one dared to question his request or tell him he was wrong. Tension and fear permeated the house because of him," she said.
Justice Delivered in Absentia
Khaled al Najjar was tried in absentia by Dutch authorities and received a 30-year prison sentence. However, he had already fled to Syria, where he is now reportedly living with another woman. His DNA was found under Ryan's fingernails. Sumaia al Najjar said she is desperate for him to be extradited to face his punishment.
Ryan's two older brothers, Muhanad, 25, and Muhamad, 24, were both convicted of assisting in the murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Evidence included algae on their shoes and traffic camera data placing them at the scene. The court concluded Ryan was killed for rejecting her family's strict Islamic upbringing.
Their mother maintains her sons are not truly responsible, claiming they were guilty only of leaving Ryan alone with their father. "It's so unfair to put my boys in prison for the crime of their father," she stated.
In a twisted post-script, Khaled later emailed Dutch newspapers to claim sole responsibility and absolve his sons, but he has never returned to face justice. Sumaia al Najjar's final words are a damning indictment: "I am so sorrowful he has been my husband. May God never forgive him."
