UN Demands Probe into Staffer's Death in Houthi Custody in Yemen

The United Nations has urgently called for an investigation into the death of one of its employees, Mohammad el-Shami, who was in Houthi detention in Yemen. The UN stated on Saturday that el-Shami, a staff member with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Yemen, passed away over a month ago, with his family only recently being notified.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk emphasized that el-Shami's family "deserve to know the truth," as the Houthis have not disclosed the cause of his death. Turk further demanded "full transparency" and an "urgent, independent and thorough investigation" from the Houthi authorities.

El-Shami had been held arbitrarily in Houthi custody since June 2024, alongside more than 60 other individuals working with the UN and various NGOs. They were accused of being part of an "American-Israeli spy network." Turk also expressed grave concern for the seven other OHCHR personnel detained with el-Shami, who remain in custody, and appealed for their "immediate and unconditional release."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres echoed these sentiments in a separate statement, expressing his "appalled" reaction to el-Shami's death and supporting the calls for an investigation. Guterres added that the UN is "urgently seeking answers" from the Houthi group regarding the circumstances surrounding the death.

This marks the second UN staff member to die in Houthi detention, following the death of a World Food Programme staffer in February 2025. In total, 72 UN staffers and NGO workers, including el-Shami, have been detained by the Houthis.

Concerns for employee safety led the UN to pause operations in parts of Houthi-held Yemen in February 2025. The rebel group has a history of parading detainees on television, portraying them as collaborators with Western intelligence agencies and Israel. In a separate development on October 6, the UN announced the release of a World Food Programme employee who had been "arbitrarily detained" by the Iran-backed group.