The father of Ryan Najjar flees to Turkey, Syria to avoid trial for honor killing

Khaled Najjar, the father of the victim and both suspects, was charged in absentia as authorities believe he fled the Netherlands back to Syria. Both brothers have denied their role in the honor killing and said that their father, Khaled, was alone responsible for the death.

Khaled wrote two letters to Dutch media, proclaiming he was responsible alone for his daughter’s killing and denying his sons had any role, according to the media reports. Prosecutors have rejected the claim. He originally fled to Turkey, once there informing relatives of where to find Ryan’s body, and was said to have penned the letters from Istanbul.

"The reason for the murder is between me and the judge, I will read that out to the court. The Dutch courts are fair and don't treat anyone unfairly,” he wrote to De Telegraaf.

Khaled is now living in northern Syria and has remarried, Nieuwsuur reported. 

“The possibilities for criminal co-operation with Syria are currently not available,” the Dutch Justice Ministry released in a statement. “The criminal justice authorities required for this co-operation are not [yet] operational in Syria.”

Syrian regime officials have claimed that they are able to assist with the extradition but have not yet received a request from the Netherlands, according to the Telegraph.

Honor killings and violence against women in the Netherlands

Ryan had received police protection from her family, but the protection ended shortly before her death.

Police began assisting Ryan after she fled barefoot to a neighbor's house in 2023, begging for help and shouting, “my father wants to kill me,” according to Dutch News.

In the Netherlands, at least five women a year need police protection from relatives because they are facing honor-related violence, Nieuwsuur reported, citing two different women’s refuge organizations.