The father is sentenced to 30 years in prison and the brothers to 20 years for the murder of Ryan the carpenter.
The Lelystad court sentenced the father and two of Ryan's brothers, the 18-year-old from Your, to long prison terms for her murder in May 2024. Ryan was strangled and submerged in water in the Oostvaardersplassen area, according to the court ruling as reported by De Telegraaf.
The father, Khaled Al-Najjar, 53 years old, was sentenced to 30 years in prison, which is five years longer than the prosecution's request, after it was found that he played a key role in the crime. He fled to Syria after committing the crime and is still wanted internationally. Ryan's brothers, aged 23 and 25, were each sentenced to 20 years in prison, in accordance with the prosecution's request.
The court determined that Ryan was killed because she claimed she 'stained the honor' of the family by adopting Western behaviors. Records showed that her brothers ensured her arrival at the scene while being fully aware that their father intended to kill her. The court condemned this, stating: 'A parent's job is to support their child and allow them to grow. Khalid did the opposite.'
The prosecutors and the court agreed that the three are involved in the crime, making them all equally responsible for Ryan's death regardless of who acted in the final moments. The crime was premeditated, as the family intended to erase any trace of their presence. The father and brothers did not attempt to contact Ryan after the incident, suggesting that they knew she was already dead.
While being taken to the detention center at the court, one of Ryan's brothers, Mohannad Al-Najjar, shouted: 'I will save my name!', reflecting the ongoing defiance despite the conviction.