Home / Crime and Justice / Father Drowns Daughter in 'Honor Killing' Swamp
Father Drowns Daughter in 'Honor Killing' Swamp
2 Dec
Summary
- Ryan Al Najjar found gagged and tied in a swamp after her disappearance.
- Father fled to Syria; his DNA found under victim's fingernails.
- Daughter allegedly killed for adopting Western lifestyle and social media use.
A father stands accused of drowning his daughter, 18-year-old Ryan Al Najjar, in an alleged honor killing before fleeing to Syria. Her body was found bound and gagged in a swamp six days after she disappeared from her home in Joure, Netherlands. Her brothers, Mohamed and Muhanad Al Najjar, are currently on trial for her murder, while their father remains at large in Syria.
Prosecutors believe the killing was triggered by Ryan's adoption of a Western lifestyle, including social media use and refusal to wear a headscarf. Chat messages reportedly suggest a TikTok video of Ryan without a headscarf embarrassed her family. Investigators found the father's DNA under Ryan's fingernails, indicating she fought back against her attacker.
The defense for the brothers claims their father was solely responsible, describing him as an authoritarian figure who frequently issued death threats. They argue their father acted impulsively and that they were not involved in the drowning. The court is expected to deliver its verdict on January 5th, with the father facing trial in absentia.
