UN Staff Member Dies While Detained by Houthis in Yemen
The United Nations has condemned the death of staff member Mohammed Al-Shami while in Houthi custody, calling for an immediate and transparent investigation.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his condemnation following the death of Mohammed Al-Shami, who served at the UN Human Rights Office in Yemen.
Al-Shami had been held in arbitrary detention by Houthi de facto authorities since June 2024. His family received no information regarding his health status or the circumstances surrounding his death.
The Secretary-General has demanded an immediate, impartial, and transparent investigation into the tragedy. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk echoed these demands, emphasizing the need to uncover the truth and hold those responsible accountable.
This marks the second instance of a UN staff member dying while in Houthi custody, raising significant concerns regarding the safety of dozens of other UN personnel currently detained.
The organization has reiterated its call for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained staff members.