UN demands probe into Yemen staffer death
Mohammad el-Shami died in Houthi custody over a month ago, and the United Nations is calling for an independent inquiry.
By Fiona Wallace ·
The United Nations demanded a formal investigation on Saturday after the death of Mohammad el-Shami, a human rights officer held by Houthi forces in Yemen. El-Shami, a staff member of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, died more than a month ago. His family was not informed of his death until recently.
Houthi authorities have not explained how el-Shami died. Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that the family deserves to know the truth. He called for full transparency and an urgent, independent, and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
El-Shami was detained in June 2024. He was among more than 60 employees from the UN and other non-governmental organizations who were arrested and accused of belonging to an American-Israeli spy network. Turk expressed grave concern for the seven other OHCHR personnel detained with el-Shami who are still in custody. He appealed for their immediate and unconditional release.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a separate statement on Saturday describing el-Shami’s death as appalling. He echoed Turk’s calls for an investigation and noted that the UN is urgently seeking answers from the group regarding how el-Shami died.
This is the second time a UN staff member has died in Houthi detention. A World Food Programme staffer died in February 2025. In total, 72 UN staffers and NGO workers have been detained by the Houthi group since the mass arrests began.
The UN paused operations in parts of Houthi-held Yemen in February 2025 due to safety concerns for its employees. The rebel group has previously shown detainees on television, presenting them as collaborators with Western intelligence agencies and Israel. On October 6, the UN announced that a World Food Programme employee was released after being arbitrarily detained.
The UN expects the Houthi authorities to provide further details on the investigation. The organization remains in contact with the group to determine the specific conditions of el-Shami’s final days in custody.
Source: Al Jazeera
