Muslim family 'tied up and drowned teenage daughter for adopting Western lifestyle'
A Muslim father and his two sons have been accused of tying up and drowning his 18-year-old daughter in a swamp, believing her “Western behaviour” was bringing shame on the family.The body of Ryan Al Najjar was discovered gagged, tied with tape and submerged in a swamp in the northern Dutch town of Joure in May last year.The teenager was allegedly murdered by her Muslim male relatives for adopting a “Western” lifestyle, which involved not wearing a headscarf, interacting with men, and using social media.Brothers Mohamed Al Najjar, 23, and Muhanad Al Najjar, 25, have been charged with murdering their sister. The body of Ryan Al Najjar was discovered gagged, tied with tape and submerged in a swamp | POLITIE NETHERLANDSProsecutors allege the brothers acted on the orders of their father, Khaled, 53, who is believed to have fled to Syria.According to prosecutors, the 18-year-old’s brothers picked her up from a house in Rotterdam the night before her murder and took her to a remote location to meet their father.Forensic analysis found Khaled’s DNA under Ms Al Najjar’s fingernails, which investigators say suggests the teenager fought back before her death.The 53-year-old is set to be tried in absentia.The 18-year-old's body was found in the northern Dutch town of Joure in May last year | WIKIMEDIA COMMONSThe Dutch prosecution service has designated the 18-year-old's death as an "honour killing". The brothers have pleaded not guilty, claiming their father acted alone in the murder of their sister. It has been reported that Khaled sent two emails to Dutch media outlets asserting that his sons were innocent and that he alone was responsible.However, prosecutors have rejected the claim, arguing that Khaled instructed his sons to collect Ryan, take her to a remote location and murder her.
CRIME - READ THE LATEST:
Dutch current affairs programme Nieuwsuur reported that the 53-year-old has since remarried after fleeing the Netherlands and relocating to northern Syria.The Dutch justice ministry told the programme that there is currently no way of forcing the father of the murdered teenager to return to the country. The ministry said: “The possibilities for criminal co-operation with Syria are currently not available.“The criminal justice authorities required for this co-operation are not [yet] operational in Syria.”The Dutch justice ministry said there is currently no way of forcing the father of the murdered teenager to return | GOOGLEIn a statement on Friday, the Dutch prosecution service said: “[Khaled] fled to Syria immediately after the murder and left his sons to take the blame. Cowardly. "Khaled has completely destroyed his family.”If convicted, the teenager’s brothers each face up to 20 years in prison.A verdict is expected on January 5.
Comments (0)