UN official dies in Houthi detention after 26 months

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights announced on Saturday that a Yemeni staff member has died while in the custody of the Houthi militant group. This development adds to a growing list of international personnel held by the faction that controls northern Yemen.

Mohammad el Shami, a staff member at the UN Human Rights Office, was detained on June 6, 2024. Volker Tuerk, the UN human rights chief, confirmed the death in a statement. El Shami spent more than two years in custody before passing away.

Tuerk stated that el Shami’s family learned of his death only recently, a gap of more than one month after the event. The family reportedly received no details regarding the cause or circumstances of his death. Tuerk called for a prompt, independent, and thorough investigation into the case.

The UN chief also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all other UN personnel held by the Houthis. This group includes seven other colleagues from his office, along with humanitarian workers and civil society members. Yemen’s prime minister condemned the death and held the Houthis fully responsible, noting that more than 70 UN employees and dozens of humanitarian workers remain detained.

The Houthis have not issued an immediate comment on the death. The group has previously alleged that detained individuals were part of a spy network working for the United States and Israel. They have also accused humanitarian organizations of using their work as cover for intelligence activities, though they have not provided evidence to support these claims.

The Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014, which triggered a Saudi-led military intervention in 2015. The conflict has since divided the country, with the Houthis controlling Sanaa and much of the north and northwest. Government-aligned forces currently hold much of the south and east.