The United Nations has called for an urgent and independent investigation following the death of one of its staff members while in Houthi detention in Yemen, senior officials said on Saturday.
Mohammad el-Shami, an employee with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), died more than a month ago, though his family was only recently notified. Houthi authorities have not provided an explanation regarding the cause of his death.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk demanded full transparency from the authorities, stating that el-Shami's family members "deserve to know the truth." Turk also reiterated appeals for the immediate and unconditional release of seven other OHCHR personnel who were detained alongside him and remain in custody.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "appalled" by the development and endorsed demands for an investigation, adding that the international body is urgently seeking answers from the group.
El-Shami had been held in arbitrary detention since June 2024, when he and more than 60 other employees of the UN and non-governmental organisations were seized and accused by the Houthis of operating as an American-Israeli spy network.
His death is the second among UN personnel detained by the Houthis, following the death of a World Food Programme employee in February 2025. In total, 72 UN and NGO personnel have been detained by the group, which has previously aired footage of detainees on television, accusing them of collaborating with Western intelligence services and Israel.
Safety concerns previously prompted the UN to pause operations across parts of Houthi-controlled territory in February 2025. While many workers remain in custody, the UN announced on October 6 that one World Food Programme staff member had been freed after being arbitrarily held by the group.
