Father jailed 30 years for honor killing of daughter

Khaled al Najjar, 53, has been sentenced to 30 years for the honor killing of his daughter, Ryan, who was found bound and gagged in a Dutch swamp. The 18-year-old's body was discovered six days after she disappeared from her family home in Lelystad, approximately 25 miles northeast of Amsterdam. The court concluded that Khaled al Najjar strangled his daughter after she adopted a Western lifestyle, which included using social media and interacting with boys.

Ryan's brothers, Mohamed, 23, and Muhanad, 25, were each sentenced to 20 years. Muhanad was present for the verdict and vowed to appeal, asserting his innocence and claiming his father acted alone. Prosecutors argued that the brothers played a significant role by picking up their sister and driving her to the isolated location, despite their claims.

Khaled al Najjar fled the Netherlands hours after his daughter's body was found and is believed to be in Syria. DNA evidence, including his fingerprints found under Ryan's fingernails, indicated she had struggled. The father sent emails to a Dutch newspaper claiming responsibility and asserting his sons' innocence, a claim rejected by prosecutors who believe he orchestrated the murder with his sons' assistance.