UN rights chief demands independent probe into death of staff member held by the Houthis in Yemen

The United Nations human rights chief has demanded an independent investigation into the death of a Yemeni member of his office who had been held by the Houthi authorities for more than two years, after the man’s family learned of the death only weeks after it happened.

According to UN News, Mohammad el Shami, a staff member of the UN human rights office in Yemen, had been arbitrarily detained by the Houthi de facto authorities since 6 June 2024. His family say he died more than a month ago and were told only recently. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the family had received no explanation of the cause or circumstances of his death and “deserve to know the truth”.

Guterres calls for answers

In a statement issued late on Saturday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the death as an “appalling tragedy” whose circumstances “remain unclear”. He said the Houthi authorities had given the UN neither information about Mr. el Shami’s well-being nor proof of life since his detention, despite repeated requests, and that the organisation was urgently seeking answers. Guterres called for an immediate, impartial, transparent and thorough investigation.

Türk called on the Houthis to disclose all relevant medical and detention records, preserve evidence and allow independent scrutiny of any stated cause of death. “There must be accountability for wrongdoing,” he said. He also voiced grave concern for the UN personnel still held, including seven colleagues from his own office, as well as detained humanitarian and civil society workers, and repeated his appeal for their immediate and unconditional release.

Dozens of UN staff still detained

Mr. el Shami was reportedly seized during a wave of Houthi raids in June 2024 in which 13 UN staff were detained. As of mid-October, the UN said 71 of its personnel were in Houthi detention. In June, the Secretary-General’s office said one UN colleague had already died in detention.

The case comes as the war is escalating. Briefing the Security Council on 9 October, UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg said Yemen had “slid back into full-scale war, with hostilities spreading across multiple frontlines”, and that many detainees had serious health problems. The UN aid coordination office, OCHA, says more than 22 million people in Yemen need assistance this year; Geopolitiki has reported on the more than 280,000 people displaced and the dangers facing aid workers.

Türk said the detentions gravely undermine the UN’s ability to support the people of Yemen during a serious humanitarian and human rights crisis, and urged the Houthi authorities to “change course”. The Houthis had not publicly explained the death at the time of the UN statements.