Family appeals convictions in honor killing of 18-year-old woman
The father and two brothers of Ryan al Najjar, 18, have officially appealed their convictions for the honor-related killing of the young Syrian woman, the Arnhem-Leeuwarden Court of Appeal has announced. While the father, currently a fugitive in Syria, was sentenced to 30 years for the murder, his sons received 20-year sentences for their involvement, a verdict their lawyers are contesting by maintaining their innocence and demanding full acquittal.
The court classified the case as honor-related violence and femicide. Ryan, originally from Joure, faced rejection from her family for embracing a Western lifestyle. Authorities provided her with heavy protection prior to her death because of severe threats from her family.
Ryan’s body was found on May 28, 2024, near the Knardijk in Lelystad. She had been tied up and died as a result of drowning. Investigations revealed that Ryan was thrown into the water alive while her hands and feet were bound.
The Lelystad court found that the three had conspired to murder Ryan, describing the case as a shocking example of female oppression and a form of femicide. The court found evidence of premeditation, noting that the family had discussed "washing away the shame" in the weeks leading up to the May 28th discovery.
The brothers denied any involvement, claiming they believed Ryan had run away. The court rejected their version, noting that they had been near the area where she was discovered, the Oostvaardersplassen.
Prosecutors rely partly on phone records and other traces, which show that the brothers were at the location of the crime during that time, to support their version of events, while the defense stresses that this is based on a scenario-driven interpretation.
