UN calls for probe into death of staffer held by Houthis in Yemen

Mohammad el-Shami, who worked for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Yemen, passed away over a month ago. His family was recently notified of his death, according to a UN statement released on Saturday.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk emphasized that el-Shami’s family is entitled to learn the details surrounding his death. He is demanding full transparency from the Houthi authorities and an urgent, independent, and thorough investigation.

El-Shami had been arbitrarily detained since June 2024, along with more than 60 others affiliated with the UN and various NGOs. They were accused by the Houthis of being part of an alleged “American-Israeli spy network.”

Turk also expressed serious concern for the seven remaining OHCHR personnel who were detained with el-Shami and are still being held, reiterating the call for their immediate and unconditional release.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his dismay regarding el-Shami’s death and supported Turk’s request for an investigation. The UN is actively seeking information from the Houthi group regarding the circumstances of his death.

This marks the second instance of a UN staff member dying while in Houthi detention, following the death of a World Food Programme staffer in February 2025. A total of 72 UN personnel and NGO workers, including el-Shami, are currently being held by the Houthis.

The UN suspended operations in areas controlled by the Houthis in February 2025 due to safety concerns for its employees. The Houthi group has previously displayed some detainees on television, portraying them as collaborators with Western intelligence agencies and Israel.

On October 6, the UN announced the release of a World Food Programme employee who had been “arbitrarily detained” by the Iran-backed group.