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I have to admit that I was planning to take the day off after I wrote a quick update on the Honduran elections, but this disgusting story got under my skin, and I felt that honoring Ryan al-Najjar was more important than getting caught up on laundry and Netflix.
Ryanwasonly18yearsold.Shehadherentireadultlifeaheadofher.HerMuslimfamilywasfromSyria,butin2014theymovedtotheNetherlandsasasylumseekers.Apparently,thepeaceandrefugetheyfoundwereonlyforthemen.
Likeanyteenagegirl,Ryanwantedtofitin,soshebegan“actingWestern,”asherfatherandbrothersputit.Shetookaninterestinboys,makeup,andsocialmediaandrefusedtowearaheadscarf.In2023,sherantoaneighbor’shouse,screamingandclaimingherfatherwastryingtokillher.
In2024,hedid.
Apparently,thelaststrawcamewhenhesawherpostalivevideoonTikTok.Ryanwaswearingmakeupandherheadwasuncovered.Themenfeltshebrought“shame”totheirfamily.
Thatnight,thefatherorderedhissonstokidnaptheirsisterandmeethimataswamp.Theygaggedherandboundherhandsandfeetwithducttapeandtiedheavyobjectstoher
