The family of a British embassy worker murdered in Beirut earlier this month have launched a charity foundation to support her humanitarian causes.
Rebecca Dykes, 30, was working in Lebanon as a programme and policy manager for the Department for International Development before her body was found dumped by a motorway in the east of the country’s capital on Saturday December 16.
Her family and friends have now established a charitable fund to continue her work supporting refugees.
Rebecca Dykes, 30, was found dead with her body dumped by a motorway in Beirut – her family are now starting a charitable foundation to support her humanitarian causes
The fund will have a particular focus on empowering and preventing violence against women.
In a statement, Ms Dykes’ family said: ‘In the time since Becky’s death we have been overwhelmed by the messages of support we have received from those who encountered her during her life.
‘Becky dedicated her career to humanitarian causes, and worked tirelessly to make the world a kinder, fairer, safer and more stable place.
‘We want to ensure that this work continues in her name.’
Ms Dykes’ family are now launching a charitable foundation in their daughter’s memory to further her humanitarian work with refugees and in preventing violence against women
The JustGiving page is hoping to raise £100,000 in memory of Ms Dykes.
The page said: ‘Rebecca was compassionate, caring and committed to humanitarian causes.
‘She worked tirelessly to make the world a kinder, fairer, safer and more stable place.
‘As well as being a dedicated humanitarian worker, Rebecca was a colleague, a friend, a daughter, a sister and aunt.
‘Your donations will help us build the better world that Rebecca believed in.’
29-year-old Uber driver Tarek Hawchieh was arrested by police for Ms Dykes’ rape and murder and he reportedly told them she was ‘pretty’ and wearing a ‘short skirt’
More details can be found at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rebeccadykes.
It is believed Ms Dykes had been at a colleague’s leaving party in the Gemmayzeh district of Beirut on the night before she was found dead.
Uber’s app allegedely linked Tarek Hawchieh to Ms Dykes’ (pictured) rape and murder
An Uber driver arrested over the killing has admitted attempting to rape Ms Dykes before strangling her with a rope, according to local media reports.
Lebanese police traced Tarek Hawchieh after his car was picked up on traffic management CCTV cameras.
Senior police sources claim Miss Dykes’ fate appeared to have been sealed the moment she entered the cab.
‘He said he found her pretty, wearing a short skirt…and so he decided to rape her as it would be easy as she was a foreigner,’ the source told MailOnline.
Uber’s app also allegedly linked the driver to her murder along with the footage.
Initial media reports suggested she had been raped at least once.
Speaking outside her home on Friday, the suspect’s mother Um Hassen said if her son was guilty he belonged ‘behind bars’ as she broke down in tears.
Ms Hassen, who lives in a rundown block of flats in an impoverished suburb of Beirut, said: ‘I’m both frustrated and depressed about what happened. If this is really his fault then he should stay in jail and remain there.’
Hawchieh reportedly confessed almost immediately to Lebanese police that he murdered the diplomat after being confronted with CCTV evidence.