brothers accused of drowning teen sister in 'honour-based' killing

Ryan Al Najjar’s killing has officially been designated an honour crime (Picture: Politie NL)

The father and two brothers of a teenager whose body was found submerged in a wetlands have been accused of killing her in honour-based violence case.

Ryan Al Najjar was found gagged,with her hands bound behind her back and ankles taped together,in the city of Lelystad in the Netherlands,last May.

The 18-year-old had been missing for a week when a passerby discovered her submerged remains.

Her brothers,Mohamed,23,and Muhanad Al Najjar,25,are now on trial for her murder,while her father,Khaled Al Najjar,will be tried in absentia after fleeing to Syria. 

The Public Prosecution Service in the Netherlands has formally designated the teenager’s murder as honour-based violence,stating that Khaled ordered for her to be killed because she ‘brought shame to the family’ by behaving too ‘Western’.

Khaled allegedly sent two emails to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf,confessing to her murder and saying that his sons were not involved.

But prosecutors dispute that version of events. They claim that he enlisted his sons to pick Ryan up,drive her to a remote location,and throw herbody into the water.

DNA belonging to Khaled was found under her fingernails,which prosecutors say indicates she tried to fight him off.

A fingerprint belonging to one of the brothers was also found on Ryan’s phone case,which was tucked into her shoe.

Mohamed and Muhanad were arrested soon after her body was found.They deny killing their sister.

Khaled’s brother reportedly told Nieuwsuur they want him to be tried in the Netherlands,and all they want is ‘for the truth to come out.’

But a statement by the Dutch Ministry of Justice said: ‘The possibilities for criminal cooperation with Syria are currently not available.

‘The criminal law authorities required for this cooperation are not (yet) operational in Syria.’

Syrian justice minister Mazhar al-Wais said he has so far not received a request from Dutch authorities and that he is prepared to provide legal assistance in accordance with the regulations.

The trial continues.

What is honour-based abuse?