GENEVA — Yemeni UN human rights staff member,Mohammad el Shami, has died in Houthi custody after being detained for more than two years, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk announced on Saturday. El Shami had been held by the Houthi authorities since June 6, 2024. According to Türk, his family was only recently informed of his death, more than a month after it occurred, without receiving any explanation of the cause or circumstances. “Mohammad’s family has not received any explanation of the cause or circumstances of his death – they deserve to know the truth,” Türk said, describing the loss as devastating. The UN human rights chief called for a prompt, independent and thorough investigation into el Shami’s death, urging the Houthis to disclose relevant medical and detention records, preserve evidence and allow independent scrutiny of the circumstances. “There must be accountability for wrongdoing,” he said. El Shami was reportedly among 13 UN personnel detained during a wave of Houthi raids in June 2024. Türk also expressed grave concern over the continued detention of other UN personnel, including seven staff members from his office, alongside humanitarian and civil society workers, renewing his demand for their immediate and unconditional release. As of mid-October, the UN reported that 71 of its personnel remained in Houthi detention. The organization had previously announced in June that another UN staff member had died while in custody. Yemen’s prime minister condemned el Shami’s death, holding the Houthis fully responsible and warning that dozens of humanitarian workers also remain detained. The Houthis have accused detained personnel of belonging to an alleged espionage network operating on behalf of the United States and Israel. They have also accused humanitarian organizations of using aid operations as cover for intelligence activities, without publicly providing evidence to substantiate the allegations. During a UN Security Council briefing on October 9, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg warned that several detainees were suffering from serious health problems, underscoring the urgency of securing their release. The detentions come amid Yemen’s prolonged conflict, which began in 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention in 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government. Despite a period of relative calm following a UN-mediated truce in 2022, the country has faced renewed hostilities. Grundberg warned in October that Yemen had returned to full-scale war, with fighting spreading across multiple frontlines. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 22 million people in Yemen require humanitarian assistance this year. “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,” Türk said, urging the Houthis to change course. In a statement posted on X, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said el Shami’s death marked the second death of a UN staff member in Houthi detention, following the death of a World Food Programme employee in 2025.GENEVA — Yemeni UN human rights staff member,Mohammad el Shami, has died in Houthi custody after being detained for more than two years, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk announced on Saturday. El Shami had been held by the Houthi authorities since June 6, 2024. According to Türk, his family was only recently informed of his death, more than a month after it occurred, without receiving any explanation of the cause or circumstances. “Mohammad’s family has not received any explanation of the cause or circumstances of his death – they deserve to know the truth,” Türk said, describing the loss as devastating. The UN human rights chief called for a prompt, independent and thorough investigation into el Shami’s death, urging the Houthis to disclose relevant medical and detention records, preserve evidence and allow independent scrutiny of the circumstances. “There must be accountability for wrongdoing,” he said. El Shami was reportedly among 13 UN personnel detained during a wave of Houthi raids in June 2024. Türk also expressed grave concern over the continued detention of other UN personnel, including seven staff members from his office, alongside humanitarian and civil society workers, renewing his demand for their immediate and unconditional release. As of mid-October, the UN reported that 71 of its personnel remained in Houthi detention. The organization had previously announced in June that another UN staff member had died while in custody. Yemen’s prime minister condemned el Shami’s death, holding the Houthis fully responsible and warning that dozens of humanitarian workers also remain detained. The Houthis have accused detained personnel of belonging to an alleged espionage network operating on behalf of the United States and Israel. They have also accused humanitarian organizations of using aid operations as cover for intelligence activities, without publicly providing evidence to substantiate the allegations. During a UN Security Council briefing on October 9, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg warned that several detainees were suffering from serious health problems, underscoring the urgency of securing their release. The detentions come amid Yemen’s prolonged conflict, which began in 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention in 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government. Despite a period of relative calm following a UN-mediated truce in 2022, the country has faced renewed hostilities. Grundberg warned in October that Yemen had returned to full-scale war, with fighting spreading across multiple frontlines. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 22 million people in Yemen require humanitarian assistance this year. “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,” Türk said, urging the Houthis to change course. In a statement posted on X, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said el Shami’s death marked the second death of a UN staff member in Houthi detention, following the death of a World Food Programme employee in 2025.
UN human rights staff member dies in Houthi custody after more than two years of detention
