A father who bound and drowned his teenage daughter in a tragic honor killing has been given a 30-year prison sentence in absentia. Khaled al Najjar, aged 53, fled the Netherlands shortly after the body of his 18-year-old daughter Ryan was discovered in an isolated nature reserve in Lelystad, approximately 40 miles northeast of Amsterdam. Al Najjar’s two sons, Mohamed, 23, and Muhanad, 25, were also convicted for their involvement in their sister’s demise and each received a 20-year sentence.
According to the court, Ryan was picked up by her brothers from a friend’s residence in Rotterdam in May 2024. They had assured her protection from their enraged father, but in reality, they were following Khaled’s orders to transport her to deep water, weigh down her body, and allow it to be consumed by fish.
Muhanad was the only brother present in court for the sentencing. Both siblings had previously denied any part in the murder. Dutch authorities had released a photo of Ryan in a blue hijab and makeup when they initiated a homicide inquiry upon discovering her remains in May 2024.
The imposed sentence on Khaled exceeds the Dutch prosecutor’s recommendation by five years and is the maximum penalty permissible in the Netherlands for individuals convicted of less than one murder. However, Khaled may evade serving the sentence as he is currently evading authorities in Syria, which lacks an extradition agreement with the Netherlands.
The family had criticized Ryan for her “Western behavior,” deeming it disgraceful. The presiding judge expressed bewilderment and disgust at a father’s decision to kill his own daughter, emphasizing Khaled’s lack of accountability despite his emphasis on honor.
The court disclosed that Ryan was delivered to her father by her brothers, who then proceeded to strangle her, bind her with tape on her wrists and ankles, and cover her mouth with a patch before she drowned in a nature reserve near Knardijk. Evidence from DNA and phone records linked both Khaled and Muhanad to the crime, highlighting Ryan’s vulnerability against three adult men.
During the trial in Lelystad, it was revealed that Khaled and his sons were primarily focused on concocting a narrative surrounding Ryan’s disappearance and concealing their involvement. Investigators noted that the brothers refrained from contacting their missing sister as they were aware she would not respond.
Despite Khaled’s denial of his sons’ participation in Ryan’s murder, the judge dismissed his claims, suspecting that Khaled was deflecting blame from a distant location to protect his sons from repercussions.