PRESS RELEASE : Statement on final verdict in murder case of “Becky” Dykes [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 December 2022.

Lebanon’s Court of Cassation has rejected the appeal by Tariq Houshieh, and affirmed his guilt for the brutal murder in 2017 of our dear colleague Rebecca “Becky” Dykes. We are grateful to all of those who have contributed to the final resolution of this case after many months of delay.

The British Embassy in Beirut, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and her family and friends, are committed to continuing to honour her legacy, including through efforts to combat the scourge of violence against women and girls, and to promote community cohesion and stability.

We hope this verdict will bring some closure for Becky’s family, for the many around the world who loved Becky, and for all those whose lives she touched through her humanitarian work in Lebanon and elsewhere.