The United Nations is demanding a thorough investigation into the death of a human rights employee while in Houthi detention in Yemen. Mohammad el-Shami, who worked for the UN Human Rights Office, died more than a month ago but his family was only recently notified. He had been arbitrarily detained by the rebel group, which controls much of northern Yemen, since June 2024.
His death has highlighted the number of UN and NGO workers targeted by the Houthis, since they captured the capital Sanaa in September 2014. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has urged the Houthi authorities in Sanaa to ensure a prompt, transparent and independent investigation into el-Shami’s death. Mohammad’s family has not received any explanation of the cause or circumstances of his death – they deserve to know the truth,” said Turk.
There must be accountability for wrongdoing.” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also expressed his dismay and demanded the immediate release of all detained personnel. I reiterate my call for their immediate & unconditional release.” The Houthis have repeatedly accused detained workers of being spies. The Houthis accused more than 60 UN and NGO workers detained in 2024, when el-Shami was arrested, of being part of an “American-Israeli spy network”.
The group has routinely arrested civil rights activists, NGO workers and other civilians on espionage allegations. As of February this year, 73 UN staff and dozens of other humanitarian workers were in detention, according to Amnesty International. El-Shami is the second UN staff member to die in Houthi custody, following the death of a World Food Programme employee in February 2025.
The Minister of Human Rights for Yemen’s internationally recognised government, Meshdal Mohammed, held the militia fully responsible for el-Shami’s abduction, forced disappearance and death. Local human rights advocates highlight the severe difficulty of achieving accountability for deaths and other civil rights abuses by the Houthis. Tawfik Alhamidi, President of SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties, outlined the systematic obstacles faced by NGO workers operating in Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen.
The Houthi authorities remain fully accountable for any deaths in custody, regardless of the exact cause, Alhamidi added.
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