A father who bound and drowned his teenage daughter in a brutal honor killing has received a 30-year prison sentence in absentia. Khaled al Najjar, aged 53, fled the Netherlands shortly after his 18-year-old daughter Ryan’s body was discovered in an isolated nature reserve near Lelystad, approximately 40 miles northeast of Amsterdam. Al Najjar’s two sons, Mohamed, 23, and Muhanad, 25, were also found complicit in their sister’s death and were each handed 20-year sentences.
According to court proceedings, Ryan was picked up by her brothers from a friend’s residence in Rotterdam under the guise of protection from their enraged father. However, they were following Khaled’s orders to transport her to deep waters, weigh her down, and leave her for the elements. Muhanad was the only sibling present during the sentencing, as both brothers had previously denied involvement in the incident.
The imposed 30-year sentence on Khaled surpasses the Dutch prosecutors’ recommendation by five years and stands as the maximum penalty for individuals convicted of fewer than one murder in the Netherlands. Despite the verdict, Khaled remains at large in Syria, a country with no extradition treaty with the Netherlands.
Ryan’s family had criticized her for behavior they deemed as “Western,” leading to shame within the family. The judge expressed disbelief that a father could commit such an act against his own daughter, emphasizing his lack of accountability.
Prosecutors revealed that Muhanad witnessed his sister being handed over to their father, who proceeded to strangle her, bind her limbs with tape, and suffocate her. Forensic evidence, including DNA and phone records, linked Khaled and Muhanad to the crime, highlighting the unequal power dynamic that Ryan faced against the three men.
During the trial, it was disclosed that Khaled and his sons were focused on fabricating a cover story for Ryan’s disappearance rather than seeking her whereabouts. The judge dismissed Khaled’s denial of his sons’ involvement, suggesting he was deflecting blame from a distant location to shield his children.
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