Dutch prosecutors are pursuing prison sentences of up to 25 years for a father and his two sons, who are accused of drowning an 18-year-old relative, believing her behavior was bringing disgrace to the family.
The body of Ryan al-Najjar, a Syrian woman, was discovered submerged in a lake near Gyur on May 28, 2024, six days after her disappearance. She was found with her hands and feet tightly bound. Authorities arrested her father and two brothers, then aged 22 and 24, on charges related to her murder, which is believed to have occurred on May 22.
“They saw Ryan as a burden that needed to be removed,” prosecutors stated. “She was a young woman who simply wanted to live her life.”
The family, described as “strict” Muslims, allegedly killed her due to their perception that she was too Westernized. Reports suggest that Ryan was targeted because she refrained from wearing a headscarf in public.
Prosecutors commented on a live TikTok video where Ryan appeared without a scarf and makeup, asserting that it deeply distressed her family, as it contrasted starkly with their traditional beliefs.
Following this, her brothers went to Rotterdam to urge Ryan to join them in a remote area the night before the incident. She was subsequently taken to Kunardijk, where her father met her, and the murder occurred.
The brothers have been named as Mohammed and Muhanad al-Najjar, with their father identified as Khalid. All three face murder charges, with the father accused of orchestrating the act before he allegedly fled to Syria.
Investigators revealed that Ryan was brought to a secluded park where her cries for help would go unheard. Evidence includes signs of strangulation and drowning, alongside the use of roughly 60 feet of tape to bind her prior to her being thrown into the water. Notably, Khalid’s DNA was discovered under her fingernails, indicating he was present during the murder.
After the crime, Khalid reportedly escaped to Syria and shifted the blame onto his sons. Prosecutors criticized his actions as “cowardly,” emphasizing that he has “completely destroyed his family.”
Dutch authorities mentioned the challenges of extraditing Khalid, especially since he married again in Syria after the murder. Prosecutors are advocating for a 25-year sentence for the father and 20 years each for the brothers. A court ruling is expected on January 5.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the prosecutor’s office for more details.
