UN employee dies in Houthi custody, prompting calls for probe
Sanaa: A Yemeni employee of the United Nations Human Rights Office has died in Houthi custody after more than two years of detention, prompting calls for an independent investigation and the release of other detainees.
Mohammad el Shami had been arbitrarily detained since June 6, 2024. His family was informed of his death only recently, more than a month after it occurred, according to a press release issued by the UN Human Rights Office.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk described his death as devastating and called for a prompt, independent and thorough investigation.
In the press release, Turk said the family had not received an explanation about the circumstances of his death. He demanded the disclosure of medical and detention records, preservation of evidence and independent scrutiny of the stated cause of death.
He also expressed concern over seven colleagues from his office who remain detained, alongside humanitarian and civil society workers. Türk urged the Houthi de facto authorities to ensure their safety, provide necessary medical care and allow them to contact their families until their release.
We are utterly devastated by the death of our colleague Mohammad el Shami in Houthi custody in Yemen, after more than two years of arbitrary detention.
— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) October 31, 2026
This is a heartbreaking loss. Mohammad’s family has not received any explanation of the cause or circumstances of his death.…
Guterres raises concern over detained UN personnel
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep sadness over el Shami’s death in a post on X on Sunday, describing it as a grave loss for the organisation.
Guterres said el Shami had been arbitrarily detained since 2024 and identified his death as the second reported case of a UN staff member dying in Houthi custody. A colleague from the World Food Programme (WFP) died in detention in 2025.
He voiced concern over the safety of current and former UN personnel, as well as humanitarian and civil society workers still held in Yemen, and reiterated his call for their immediate and unconditional release.
I am appalled & deeply saddened by the death of a @UN colleague, Mohammad el Shami, while in the custody of the Houthi de facto authorities in Yemen. He served with @UNHumanRights & had been arbitrarily detained by the Houthis since 2024.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) November 1, 2026
This is the second death of a UN staff…
Yemen minister calls for international probe
Yemen’s Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani held the Houthi militia directly responsible for el Shami’s safety during detention in a separate post on X.
He urged the international community, particularly the United Nations and Security Council, to investigate the circumstances of the death, ensure the return of el Shami’s remains to his family and secure the release of all other detainees.
Al-Eryani also called for accountability for violations committed against civilians and humanitarian organisation personnel.
● تلقينا ببالغ الحزن والغضب نبأ وفاة محمد إبراهيم الشامي، موظف مفوضية الأمم المتحدة السامية لحقوق الإنسان، بعد أكثر من عامين من اعتقاله وإخفائه قسرياً في سجون مليشيا الحوثي، وحرمان أسرته من زيارته أو التواصل معه، في ظروف لا تزال غامضة، تثير تساؤلات خطيرة حول سلامة بقية… pic.twitter.com/Y2rkovigZ9
— معمر الإرياني (@ERYANIM) October 31, 2026
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