UN Human Rights Staffer Dies in Houthi Custody in Yemen, UN Demands Investigation

A Yemeni staff member of the UN Human Rights Office has died in Houthi custody in Yemen, the United Nations said on Saturday. Mohammad el Shami had been arbitrarily held by the Houthi de facto authorities since June 6, 2024. According to information provided by his family, he died more than a month ago, but his family was only recently informed. The Houthi authorities have not said how he died.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, speaking in a statement issued in Geneva on Saturday, called the death utterly devastating. "I extend my deepest condolences to Mohammad's family and loved ones," Turk said. "This is a heartbreaking loss for the UN Human Rights Office and the wider United Nations. Mohammad's family has not received any explanation of the cause or circumstances of his death. They deserve to know the truth."

An investigation demanded

Turk demanded full transparency from the Houthi authorities and an urgent, independent and thorough investigation into the death. That requires disclosure of all relevant medical and detention records, preservation of evidence and independent scrutiny of any stated cause of death, he said. "There must be accountability for wrongdoing," Turk said.

Secretary General Antonio Guterres issued a separate statement on Saturday. He said he was appalled by el Shami's death, condemned it and echoed the call for an investigation. The United Nations is urgently seeking answers from the de facto authorities about the circumstances of the death. Since el Shami was detained in June 2024, the authorities had provided neither information about his well being nor proof of life, despite repeated requests from the United Nations, the statement said.

Held since June 2024

El Shami was detained on June 6, 2024, in a roundup in which the Houthis held more than 60 people working with the UN and other aid groups and accused them of being part of an American-Israeli spy network, the Associated Press reported. Yemen's prime minister, Shaya al-Zindani, condemned the death, held the Houthis fully responsible and called for those responsible to be held accountable, Reuters reported.

The second death in detention

El Shami is the second UN staff member to die in Houthi detention. A World Food Programme colleague died in February 2025. The UN paused operations in parts of Houthi held Yemen that same month over concerns for the safety of its staff, the Associated Press reported.

Turk said he was gravely concerned for the safety and well being of the other UN personnel who remain detained, including seven colleagues from his own office, as well as detained humanitarian and civil society workers. He appealed again for their immediate and unconditional release. Guterres said he was deeply concerned for 70 UN personnel, five former UN staff members and personnel from humanitarian and civil society organisations who remain detained, and he repeated the call for them to be released immediately and unconditionally.