#NadynJouny: Outspoken Lebanese women's rights campaigner tragically dies in car crash

Nadyn Jouny, a 29-year-old mother who led campaigns against religious courts in Lebanon during her fight to gain custody of her son, died in a car crash on the Damour highway at 05:30 am, according to Lebanon's Daily Star.

Jouny, who worked for the Abaad NGO advocating for gender equality in policies and laws, had led numerous campaigns to change custody laws, particularly those under religious rulings.

The injustices faced by Lebanese women fuelled Jouny's relentless fight against the sexist system. Rights groups and activists mourned her tragic loss.

"With great sorrow, we mourn the loss of the young activist Nadyn Jouny, who we lost in a painful traffic accident on Sunday morning," Abaad said in a Facebook statement on Wednesday.

"We pledge to Nadyn, who was a symbol of struggle of Lebanese mothers amid the oppressive and discriminatory system against women and girls [in Lebanon], that we will continue to fight for her cause."

"I woke up to the news of the death of our colleague [Nadyn Jouny] in a car accident. [Nadyn], who fought against early marriage and unfair custody laws, worked with Abaad on a number of social issues, suffered from early marriage and was deprived of her son. [Nadyn], we won't say farewell," Joe Maalouf, a show presenter on MTV, tweeted.

"Nadyn Jouny, a mother who was deprived of her son. She lived and died a victim. A victim of this country's roads. A victim of these worn out laws. Peace be upon your soul," a Twitter user said.

The activist's funeral will take place on Monday in her hometown of Bint Jbeil in South Lebanon.

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