A father who fled the Netherlands after murdering his 18-year-old daughter in a brutal honour killing has been sentenced to 30 years in prison in absentia. Khaled al Najjar, 53, is believed to be hiding in Syria after his daughter Ryan's bound and gagged body was discovered in a swamp.
Brothers Convicted as Accomplices
Khaled's two sons, Mohamed, 23, and Muhanad, 25, were also found guilty for their roles in the killing and each handed 20-year sentences. Only the eldest, Muhanad, was present in court for the verdict. Dressed in a beige hoodie, he listened as the judge read the decision, later stating, 'I will clear my name.' His younger brother chose to remain in his cell, a decision the presiding judge criticised.
Muhanad's lawyer, Johan Mühren, announced an immediate appeal, arguing there was no direct evidence linking his client to the crime. The court's written summary, however, concluded that Khaled tied up, strangled, and drowned his daughter. It stated one son was present at the location, while the other helped collect Ryan from Rotterdam and drive her to the isolated Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve, knowing her fate.
A Life Controlled, A Death Orchestrated
Prosecutors revealed that Ryan's murder on May 22, 2024, followed a pattern of intimidation within her family, who held strict traditional views. Her adoption of a Western lifestyle—mixing with boys, refusing to wear a headscarf, and using social media—was seen as a humiliating betrayal. The fatal trigger is believed to have been a live TikTok video where Ryan appeared without a headscarf and wearing makeup, which embarrassed the family.
Ryan disappeared from her family home, and her body was found six days later on May 28 in a swamp near Lelystad. DNA belonging to her father was found under her fingernails, indicating a struggle. Despite Khaled sending emails to a Dutch newspaper claiming sole responsibility, prosecutors maintained his sons were complicit, having driven Ryan to the remote meeting point.
A Chilling Final Journey
In court, the prosecutor painted a harrowing picture of Ryan's final moments. 'What must she have feared,' they said, 'In the middle of the night, in complete darkness, in a completely isolated place.' Muhanad's defence claimed he had merely picked his sister up to take her home to apologise to their father, after which 'everything would be okay.' Shortly after midnight, Ryan was killed.
The court noted that while the precise role of one brother could not be fully established, it was irrelevant to the question of guilt, as both played a significant part. The trial, which began on November 27, saw the brothers insist their father acted alone, but the judges found otherwise, delivering substantial sentences for all three family members involved in the tragic honour killing.
