The story of the al Najjar family is one of shattered dreams and horrific tragedy. Having fled the Syrian civil war for a new life in the Netherlands, their hopes for peace and integration ended in the brutal murder of their teenage daughter, Ryan, in a so-called honour killing. Now, for the first time, her mother, Sumaia al Najjar, 43, has spoken out, placing the blame squarely on her ex-husband for destroying their family.
A New Beginning Shattered by Violence
In 2016, after a perilous journey to seek asylum, the al Najjar family settled in the Dutch village of Joure. They were provided with a council house, and father Khaled al Najjar received state support to start a pizza business. On the surface, they were a success story of integration, even featured in local media. However, behind closed doors, the family lived in terror of Khaled's violent temper.
"He was a violent man," Sumaia told the Daily Mail in an unpaid interview. "He used to break things and beat me and his children up, beat all of us." This domestic tyranny increasingly focused on their daughter, Ryan, as she struggled with her identity in a new culture.
The Tragic Downfall of Ryan al Najjar
Ryan, who turned 18 just a month before her death, faced bullying at school for wearing a headscarf. In response, she began to rebel, removing her hijab, smoking, and embracing a more Western lifestyle. This sparked fury from her conservative father, who saw her behaviour as bringing shame on the family. The conflict escalated to the point where Ryan fled the family home and entered the Dutch care system for her own safety.
The situation reached its horrific conclusion in September 2022. Ryan's body was found face down in a pond in the Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve, bound and gagged with 18 metres of duct tape. Traces of her father's DNA were discovered under her fingernails and on the tape. Evidence showed she was still alive when thrown into the water.
Trials, Sentences, and a Mother's Anguish
This week, a Dutch court sentenced Khaled al Najjar, now believed to be living in Syria with a new wife, to 30 years in prison in absentia for orchestrating his daughter's murder. The court concluded Ryan was killed for rejecting her family's Islamic upbringing.
In a devastating blow for Sumaia, the court also convicted Ryan's two brothers, Muhanad, 25, and Muhamad, 24, sentencing each to 20 years in jail for assisting their father. Mobile phone data, GPS signals, and algae on their shoes placed them at the scene, driving Ryan to the isolated spot where she was left alone with Khaled.
Sumaia vehemently denies her sons' involvement, insisting they were tricked by their father. "The verdict was unjust. My boys Muhanad and Muhamad did nothing," she wept. "Khaled destroyed our family - we are all destroyed." She claims a damning WhatsApp message calling Ryan a "slut" was sent by Khaled from her phone. Dutch prosecutors have stated they are not convinced she sent it.
From Syria, Khaled emailed Dutch newspapers claiming sole responsibility in an attempt to exonerate his sons, but he has not returned to face justice. Sumaia is desperate for his extradition, but Syria has no such agreement with the Netherlands.
Now, Sumaia is left to grieve a murdered daughter, mourn the incarceration of her two sons, and care for her remaining children in the shadow of an unimaginable family betrayal. "I didn't escape the war to watch my sons rot in prison," she said, her voice filled with a despair that has travelled from the ruins of Syria to a quiet Dutch village.
