UN demands investigation after staffer’s death in Houthi custody in Yemen

The United Nations has demanded an investigation into the death of Mohammad el-Shami, an employee of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Yemen. El-Shami had been held by the Houthis since June 2024, when he and more than 60 UN and NGO workers were accused of being part of an "American-Israeli spy network".

The UN announced on Saturday that el-Shami died more than a month ago, though his family was only recently informed. The Houthis have not disclosed how he died. El-Shami is the second UN staff member to die in Houthi detention, following a World Food Programme staffer in February 2025.

UN demands answers

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk stated that el-Shami's family "deserve to know the truth" and demanded "full transparency" from the Houthi authorities. "I am also gravely concerned" for the seven other OHCHR personnel still being held, Turk added, appealing for their "immediate and unconditional release."