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Dutch Prosecutors Seek 25-Year Sentences After Muslim Father, Sons Accused of Drowning Teen Over ‘Western’ Lifestyle” By SDWJR | TBA News Network A horrifying case out of the Netherlands has gripped international attention, as Dutch prosecutors push for sentences of up to 25 years in prison for a Muslim father and his two sons accused of murdering their 18-year-old family member because she refused to follow their strict religious expectations. A Tragic Discovery The victim, Ryan Al Najjar, an 18-year-old Syrian woman living in the Netherlands, was found dead on May 28, 2024. Her body was discovered submerged in a lake near Joure in northern Netherlands — hands and feet tightly bound, according to authorities. She had been missing for six days. Prosecutors believe the killing took place on May 22, and the young woman’s father and two brothers — then ages 22 and 24 — were arrested and charged shortly thereafter. “She Wanted to Live Her Own Life” Dutch prosecutors argue the motive was rooted in “family honor” and extreme cultural control. According to the Public Prosecution Service, the father and sons viewed Ryan as a burden because she embraced a lifestyle they considered “too Western” and refused to comply with their religious demands. Her refusal to wear a headscarf in public and her desire for independence reportedly triggered the violent conspiracy. Prosecutors said: “They saw Ryan as a burden that had to be removed. Just because she was a young woman who wanted to live her own life.” Authorities described the family as coming from a “strict Islamic background,” where the men felt justified in controlling her clothing, behavior, and freedom. A Case That Shakes Europe This tragic killing has reignited debates across Europe about forced cultural norms, women’s rights, and the dangers faced by young women caught between tradition and modern Western freedoms. Human rights advocates warn that Ryan’s death is another example #sdwjr #tbanewsnetwork

I spent my entire monthly allotment in 45 minutes. This is what $290 looks like in

I remember back in 2021, my monthly SNAP allotment felt like a safety net. I could fill two carts. I could buy brand-name cereal. I could even grab a few "treats" for the kids. Today, I walked into Walmart with my full $291 deposit. I walked out with barely enough to cover the bottom of one cart. Let's talk about the prices that nearly made me cry in aisle 4: Ground Beef: Used to be $3.99/lb. Now? $6.48 for the cheap stuff with high fat content. Eggs: Back up to nearly $5 a dozen in my area. Bread: Even the generic store brand is almost $2.50. I had to play a humiliating game of "Tetris" at the checkout register. watching the total climb: $200... $250... $280. I had to ask the cashier to stop. I put back the bag of apples. I put back the box of crackers. I put back the frozen pizza I promised my son. Now I have $1.15 left on my card to last me until January 1st. It’s December 1st. How are we supposed to survive this? Is anyone else relying on food banks just to bridge the gap? #Inflation #GroceryHaul #FoodInsecurity #Economy #CostOfLiving #StruggleIsReal #Walmart

#LowIncomeStruggles back in the 80s I divorced my abusive husband had 3 little girls. To get back at me decided wasn't paying child support except 1 week a month. Back then in that state that was enough to keep you out of the courts. I was born here my mom and dad were born here, but I was too poor for food stamps. He wouldn't sign that I got any support so no stamps. They wanted me to sign up for welfare I was raised up not to be on it, so they would give me welfare but no food for my kids told them to take it and shove it. So being to poor is not new!

Airbnb Nightmare: Toxic Mold Kills Cancer Patient

This is wild—imagine booking a 'cozy' Airbnb to recover from chemo, only to end up exposed to deadly toxic mold. That’s what happened to Mohamad Gafoor, whose family says the moldy A/C unit in their rental led to a fatal infection. Now, they’re suing Airbnb for over $1 million, claiming the so-called 'luxury' condo was actually a health hazard. Makes you want to check those vents before your next stay! #Health #BodyHealth #Airbnb

Her SNAP Was Cut, So She Started Diluting Milk for Her Child

At the food pantry where I volunteer, I met a young mom whose SNAP benefits were suddenly cut in half. The reason was absurd—the system flagged her for “increased income,” even though nothing changed except two extra overtime shifts last month. The reviewer told her to submit three more documents, but processing could take 30 days. She admitted she’s been watering down milk every day so her kid can have something to drink. What stung the most was a man beside her bragging that he knows “the trick”—he stops taking temporary jobs before each review so the system shows “no income,” and he actually gets a higher benefit amount. The mom just stared at him, like she was witnessing how unfair the system can be. #SNAPCuts #SystemFailure #FoodInsecurity

The Case of Karlie Guse Still Haunts Me

I’ve read a lot of missing-person stories, but the disappearance of 16-year-old Karlie Guse sticks with me in a way I can’t shake. A normal night out, a bad reaction to weed, a scared teenager begging her stepmom to bring her home — and by sunrise, she was gone without her phone, her shoes, or even her glasses. It’s the kind of detail that makes everything feel so raw and real. You can almost picture her stepping outside confused, panicked, or disoriented, and then… nothing. Six years later, not a trace. What haunts me most is how quickly an ordinary moment can turn into a nightmare. One decision, one bad reaction, one unlocked door. It also hurts to think about how young she was — still a kid trying to figure life out, not knowing that this night would become the last time anyone saw her. I don’t know what happened to Karlie, and maybe that’s why this case stays with so many of us. It’s the fear of the unknown, the fragility of safety, the thought of a teenager who needed help and somehow slipped into silence. I hope someday her family gets answers. No one should have to live with this kind of open wound forever. #History #UnexpectedHistory

Commander of September attack believed survivors were continuing drug run, report says By Greg Norman, The U.S. military commander involved in a deadly Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug vessel in the Caribbean is expected to tell lawmakers Thursday that a follow-up attack was ordered against two survivors because he believed they were attempting to continue their drug run, a report said. The version of events that Adm. Frank "Mitch" Bradley plans to describe to members of Congress in a closed-door briefing would push back on claims from some legal experts that the killing of the two survivors in the second strike could have amounted to a war crime, The Wall Street Journal reported. The newspaper, citing two defense officials, reported that Bradley will say that he and his legal adviser concluded that the two survivors were attempting to press forward with their drug run, making them and their already-damaged boat a legitimate target for a follow-up attack. The officials added that Bradley, as part of his decision, considered that "enemy" boats were nearby and the survivors were believed to be communicating by radio with others in their drug smuggling network. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, left, and Adm. Frank "Mitch" Bradley, right. Hegseth wrote on X that "Admiral Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a true professional, and has my 100% support," and, "I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made — on the September 2 mission and all others since." Getty Images The Sept. 2 attack was the Trump administration’s first use of military force against a suspected drug vessel in the Caribbean and the only one in which survivors are known to have been targeted and killed in a follow-up operation, according to the Journal.

Wishing for World Peace, positive vibes, and better New Year