Americans have always prided themselves on being the "melting pot" of the world. It used to be that there was nowhere else on the planet that people wanted to immigrate to more. That melting pot has created a culture that is second to none. The food, music, and many customs from people around the world have blended to create an American culture that is beautiful in so many ways. But in the post 9/11 era, it's safe to say that some practices from other parts of the world are not welcome and are simply incompatible with Western and, more specifically, American values.
18-year-old Syrian Muslim girl was tied up with tape and drowned in a ditch in the Netherlands by her father and brothers for removing her hijab and being too ‘Westernized.’
— Dr. Maalouf (@realMaalouf) November 27, 2025
When they were arrested, they defended themselves by claiming honor killings are ‘part of their culture.’ pic.twitter.com/xhSJpzKwAK
In May of 2024, 18-year-old Ryan Al Najjar, a native of Syria, went missing in the Netherlands. Six days after she was reported missing, her body was found in a lake in the northern part of the country. Her hands and feet were bound. That is a horrific enough story by itself, but here is where things go terribly wrong. Al Najjar's father and brothers are now being prosecuted for her murder and could face up to 25 years in prison. But the worst part was the brothers' defense of the murder upon being arrested: Honor killings are just "part of their culture."
READ MORE: It's Not One World: WA Parents on Trial for Attempted 'Honor Killing' of Their Own Daughter
Sadly, the reason for the heinous crime is not new or unheard of. Ryan Al Najjar's father and brothers believed that her lifestyle was "too Western" and was bringing dishonor on the family. She had refused to wear a veil in public and had posted a TikTok video of herself wearing make-up but no head covering. Authorities believe that her brothers, Mohamed and Muhanad, may have lured her to Rotterdam, where they took her to a secluded location. Her father, Khaled, then joined his sons in Al Najjar's murder. Dutch prosecutors are seeking a 25-year sentence for Al Najjar's father, who immediately fled to Syria, and will be tried in absentia, leaving his sons holding the bag for the killing. Both brothers say they were not involved and claim that Khaled carried out the murder alone.
So, how have Europe's multiculturalism policies, which have allowed millions of Middle Eastern immigrants into European countries, worked out? As of November 2024, roughly 900 "no-go zones" existed across Europe. Neighborhoods where, if you are a woman, gay, Jewish, or just not part of the ethnic community, you might want to think twice about going into. Closer to home, in Dearborn, Michigan, a city with a majority Muslim population, non-Muslim residents complained at a recent city council meeting that a local mosque is using an outdoor loudspeaker for daily calls to prayer, often beginning at 5:30 a.m.
Honor killings against women and girls is femicide. https://t.co/HQJmEIS0aP
— rem ⚢ (@sm0chies) November 30, 2025
Granted, no-go zones and mosque loudspeakers are hardly honor killings. But honor killings have already made it to our shores. In St. Louis in 1989, 16-year-old Tina Isa was murdered by her Palestinian father, Zein Isa, for becoming too Westernized. Tina had gotten a part-time job, had snuck out of her house to go to her junior prom, and had a boyfriend. All of which her parents disapproved of. The murder was discovered because the FBI had bugged the family's apartment due to Zein Isa's alleged ties to the Abu Nidal organization. The entire murder was caught on tape. In 2022, an Egyptian man in Texas was convicted of killing his two daughters because, as a Muslim, he was upset that they had boyfriends and were dating.
ALSO READ: Don't Mess With Texas: Gov. Abbott Drops Hammer on 'Radical' Muslim Groups in Lone Star State
There is no doubt a debate to be had over how you might enforce assimilation on immigrants to the U.S., but it is becoming something that Americans must insist on. American culture and society were founded upon Judeo-Christian values, including the value of life. If your culture includes honor killings, perhaps you shouldn't bring it here.
Murdered by her own male relatives for her western lifestyle. Honor killings: #Islam in practice.
— Lana Miersen (@LanaMiersen) November 30, 2025
We are not the same.https://t.co/UDYnI2BuR1
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