Mohammad el-Shami, an OHCHR staff member held since June 2024, died over a month before authorities notified his family, with no cause of death provided. His passing represents the second fatality of a UN worker in Houthi detention following the death of a World Food Programme employee in February 2025. Houthi authorities have detained 72 UN and NGO personnel after accusing them of collaborating with an American-Israeli intelligence network. High Commissioner Volker Turk has demanded the unconditional release of seven other OHCHR colleagues who remain in custody.
Key points
UN leadership is demanding an urgent, independent, and transparent investigation into the…: UN leadership is demanding an urgent, independent, and transparent investigation into the undisclosed circumstances surrounding the staffer's death.
Grave concerns persist for the safety of seven other OHCHR personnel who remain in arbitr…: Grave concerns persist for the safety of seven other OHCHR personnel who remain in arbitrary Houthi custody.
The incident marks the second fatal custody case involving UN personnel following a World…: The incident marks the second fatal custody case involving UN personnel following a World Food Programme worker's death in February 2025.
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Mohammad el-Shami had been held since June 2024, when he and many other UN and NGO workers were accused of being spies.
The United Nations has demanded an investigation into the death of an employee in Houthi detention in Yemen.
Mohammad el-Shami, a staff member of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Yemen, died more than a month ago, but his family was only recently informed, the UN said in a statement on Saturday.
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The Houthis did not say how he died, but his family “deserve to know the truth”, said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.
The human rights chief also demanded “full transparency” from the Houthi authorities and an “urgent, independent and thorough investigation” into el-Shami’s death.
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