GENEVA — Mohammad el Shami, a Yemeni staff member of the UN Human Rights Office, died in Houthi custody, and his family found out he was dead weeks after it happened.
He had been held since June 6, 2024. Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, announced the death in a statement on Saturday and called the detention arbitrary.
By the family’s account, el Shami died more than a month ago. They have been given no explanation — not the cause, not the circumstances.
“I extend my deepest condolences to Mohammad’s family and loved ones,” Türk 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.”
Türk called the death “utterly devastating” and demanded full transparency from the Houthi de facto authorities, along with an urgent, independent and thorough investigation.
“This 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.”
Seven other staff from Türk’s office remain in Houthi detention, alongside detained humanitarian and civil society workers. Türk appealed again for their immediate and unconditional release, and said that until they are freed, the authorities must guarantee their safety, humane treatment, medical care, contact with their families and access by the UN.
“No family should have to endure what our colleagues’ loved ones are now facing,” he said.
Türk warned the detentions are undermining the UN’s work in Yemen. “By detaining our colleagues, the de facto authorities are gravely undermining our ability to support the people of Yemen during a most serious humanitarian and human rights crisis,” he said. “I urge them to change course.”
The Houthis, an Iran-backed group that controls much of northern Yemen including the capital, Sanaa, have also faced U.S. airstrikes against Houthis in Yemen.
El Shami is the second UN staff member to die in Houthi detention; a World Food Programme worker died in February 2025, Reuters reported. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “appalled” by el Shami’s death and echoed the call for an investigation, according to Reuters.
Have something to promote?
Bring your business, services or event to our readers.