Yemen: UN Human Rights Staff Member Dies in Houthi Custody, Rights Chief Demands Investigation
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said on October 31 that Mohammad el Shami, a Yemeni staff member of the UN Human Rights Office, has died in Houthi custody after being arbitrarily detained for more than two years, since June 6, 2024, and called for a prompt, independent and thorough investigation.
Türk said el Shami's family had been informed of his death only recently, more than a month after it occurred, and had received no explanation of the cause or circumstances.
Türk also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all other UN personnel held by the Houthis, including seven colleagues from his office, as well as detained humanitarian workers and civil society members. Yemen's prime minister condemned the death, held the Houthis fully responsible and called for accountability, saying more than 70 UN employees and dozens of humanitarian workers remained detained.
There was no immediate comment from the Houthis, who have said those detained were part of a spy network working for the United States and Israel and have accused humanitarian organisations of using their work as cover for intelligence activities, without providing evidence. The Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention in 2015 in support of Yemen's internationally recognised government.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 照片：也门首都萨那老城，Rod Waddington 摄，Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 2.0 授权 / Photo: Old Sanaa, Yemen, by Rod Waddington, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
