Teenage girl bound with tape and drowned in swamp by her brothers in ‘honour killing’ | World | News
Two Syrian brothers accused of murdering their 18-year-old sister in a so-called “honour killing” by wrapping her in tape, gagging her and drowning her in a swamp because she adopted “Western” habits have appeared in court in the Netherlands. Mohamed Al Najjar, 23, and Muhanad Al Najjar, 25, are on trial at Lelystad District Court for the premeditated murder of Ryan Al Najjar between the night of May 27 and the morning of May 28, 2024.
Prosecutors say the brothers drove Ryan more than 75 miles (120 kilometres) from the family home in Joure, Friesland, to a remote swamp in the Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve in Flevoland. There, Ryan was bound with 81.4 feet (24.83 metres) of brown packaging tape, gagged, and submerged while still alive. The autopsy confirmed drowning as the cause of death; water and mud were found in her lungs.
The public prosecutor told the court the killing stemmed from Ryan’s refusal to accept an arranged marriage, her relationship with a Dutch boyfriend, and her decision to stop wearing a headscarf. These actions were seen by the family as a profound stain on their honour.
Evidence presented includes recovered WhatsApp messages from the family group. One brother wrote “there is no other solution.”
The mother – who is not being prosecuted – wrote that Ryan was “a disgrace to the family and deserves to die” and should be “wrapped in a shroud.” A secretly recorded conversation captured a brother saying the family had been humiliated and that death was the only remedy.
The alleged mastermind is the victims’ father, Khaled Al Najjar, 52. He fled to northern Syria days after the murder. In June 2024 he sent emails to Dutch media claiming sole responsibility and stating “I am the one who killed her,” while insisting his sons were innocent.
Forensic evidence contradicts such claims, given the father’s DNA was found under Ryan’s fingernails and on the tape. Phone records, Wi-Fi hotspot connections belonging to the brothers, flashlight activation on Ryan’s phone, and step-counter data from the brothers’ devices place both men at the dumping site at the time of death.
Ryan had fled the family home barefoot on two occasions in 2023, telling neighbours she feared her father wanted to kill her. She received police protection for several months in a secret location, but the measures were discontinued weeks before she disappeared.
The brothers deny any role in the killing. They claim they drove Ryan part of the way at their father’s request but believed she was being taken to another town, not killed. They say their father acted alone.
The trial began on November 27, 2025 and is scheduled to continue into December. Khaled Al Najjar remains a fugitive in regime-controlled Syria and cannot be extradited.
