A shocking honour killing trial is underway in the Netherlands, where two brothers are accused of murdering their teenage sister because her Westernised behaviour was deemed to have shamed the family.
A Brutal Crime in the Name of Honour
Prosecutors allege that 18-year-old Ryan Al Najjar was the victim of a premeditated honour killing. Her body was discovered on 28 May 2024, six days after she vanished from the family home in Joure. A passerby found her submerged in a swamp in Lelystad, approximately 50 miles north-east of Amsterdam.
The scene was harrowing. Ryan was found gagged, with her hands bound behind her back and her ankles taped together. Investigators later uncovered a crucial piece of evidence: DNA belonging to her father, Khaled Al Najjar, was found under her fingernails, indicating a violent struggle before her death.
The Accused and the Fugitive Father
Ryan's brothers, Mohamed, 23, and Muhanad Al Najjar, 25, are now on trial for their alleged roles in her murder. They are charged with taking part in the horrific crime. Their father, Khaled, who prosecutors say ordered the killing, fled the country to Syria and will be tried in absentia.
The brothers deny any involvement, claiming their father acted alone. This assertion is supported by two emails allegedly sent by Khaled to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, in which he claimed full responsibility and stated his sons were innocent. However, Dutch prosecutors have rejected this claim.
They argue that the father instructed his sons to collect Ryan, drive her to an isolated location, and throw her into the water while she was gagged and weighed down, knowing she would die.
International Complications and Systemic Failures
The case has exposed significant challenges in international legal cooperation. The Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security confirmed that the Netherlands currently has no way to secure Khaled's return from northern Syria, where he is believed to be living and has reportedly remarried.
'The possibilities for criminal cooperation with Syria are currently not available,' the Ministry stated, explaining that the necessary criminal justice authorities are not operational there. This has been disputed by Syria's own Ministry of Justice. Minister Mazhar al-Wais insisted the Syrian justice system has been 'fully restored' and is ready to provide legal assistance, claiming they have never received a formal request from the Netherlands regarding this case.
In a tragic footnote, it was revealed that Ryan had been under police protection before her murder, but it was discontinued for reasons that have not been made public. It is estimated that Dutch authorities provide heavy protection to at least two women per year who are at risk of honour killings.
Both brothers remain in custody after a judge denied their lawyers' request for release. The trial continues as the Netherlands grapples with this brutal crime.
