The United Nations demanded an independent investigation on Oct. 31 into the death of Mohammad al-Shami, an employee of its Human Rights Office in Yemen who had been detained by the Houthis since June 2024.
The UN described his detention as arbitrary. Citing al-Shami’s family, it said he had died more than a month earlier, although relatives had only recently been notified. UN human rights chief Volker Turk said no explanation for his death had been provided.
In the statement reported by AFP and published by The Straits Times, Turk called on Houthi authorities to disclose what happened and allow an urgent, thorough inquiry. He also demanded the release of other detained UN personnel, expressing concern for their safety and warning that the detentions were obstructing the organisation’s work in Yemen.
UN spokesman Farhan Haq had said on Oct. 14 that the Houthis were holding 71 UN personnel. That figure was not presented as an updated count in the report on al-Shami’s death.
Yemen’s information minister, Muammar al-Eryani, separately called for an independent international investigation and accountability, according to a statement cited by the Yemeni news agency SABA. He said the unexplained circumstances raised concerns about others still detained.
The Iran-aligned Houthis are fighting Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which is supported by Saudi Arabia.