Houthi Custody Death Prompts UN Call for Transparent Inquiry

New York, November 1: The death of a United Nations staff member while in the custody of Houthi rebels in Yemen has drawn a strong response from Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has expressed grief and displeasure and urged an urgent, impartial and detailed investigation.

The victim, Mohammed al-Shami, worked alongside the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. A statement released by the Secretary-General's spokesperson said he was stunned by the news and described the death as distressing, adding that the exact circumstances are still unknown.

According to the UN, Mr. al-Shami was taken into custody in June 2024. Despite repeated appeals from the organisation, the Houthi de facto authorities have neither provided updates on his condition nor confirmed that he was alive.

The UN has now asked Houthi officials to respond immediately about how he died. The organisation has underlined the importance of holding those responsible to account and uncovering the whole truth.

The incident has intensified questions about the safety of UN employees in Yemen. Mr. al-Shami is the second UN staff member to die in Houthi detention. In February 2025, an employee of the World Food Programme (WFP) also died while in custody.

The Secretary-General has stressed that people held in detention must be treated humanely and that their dignity and fundamental rights must be respected at all times.

Guterres is also deeply concerned for 70 UN personnel held in detention, five former UN staff members, and personnel from humanitarian and civil society groups. He has called for their immediate and unconditional release.