The UN's human rights chief, Volker Turk, on Friday demanded the return of the body of Mohammad el Shami, a Yemeni staff member of the UN human rights office who died of unknown causes weeks earlier while held in Houthi custody for more than two years. El Shami had been held by the Houthi group since June 6, 2024.
His family learned of his death on October 30, more than a month after it occurred, but they have received no explanation of the cause or circumstances. Turk said his colleague must be laid to rest in a dignified manner in accordance with the wishes of his family, who were denied contact with him for two years while he was in detention.S1S2
The family said in a statement earlier this week that the Houthis had agreed in principle to an investigation. There was no immediate comment from the Houthis, who have previously said those detained were part of a spy network working for the United States and Israel.S1S2
More than 70 UN employees and dozens of humanitarian workers remain in detention in Yemen. A video circulating this week appeared to show one of them confessing, and Turk's office voiced fears that the group may be subjecting detainees to torture or ill-treatment.S1S2
