UN rights chief demands Houthis return body of staff member who died in custody

The UN's human rights chief on Friday demanded the return of the body of a Yemeni staff member who died of unknown causes weeks ago, after more than two years in Houthi custody. Mohammed al-Shami's family learned of his death on 30 October, more than a month after it happened, and has received no explanation of the cause or circumstances. Al-Shami had been held by the Houthis since 6 June 2024. "Our colleague must be laid to rest in a dignified manner, in accordance with the wishes of his family - which was denied contact with him for two years while he was in detention," said Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights. In a statement earlier this week, Al-Shami's family said the Houthis had agreed in principle to an investigation. "Do not allow Mohammed to die twice: once when he was taken from his family and disappeared, and again when the truth about his fate is allowed to disappear from the world," the statement said. More than 70 UN employees and dozens of humanitarian workers remain in detention in Yemen. Turk's office said a video circulating this week appeared to show one of them "confessing", and voiced fears that the detainees may be subjected to torture or ill-treatment. #Yemen: @volker_turk demands that the body of Mohammed Al-Shami, colleague deceased in Houthi custody, be returned to his family without delay, and that the Houthi de facto authorities take urgent steps to establish the date, cause and circumstances of his death, and to ensure those responsible are held accountable. Türk calls for all detained @UN and humanitarian personnel to be released immediately and unconditionally. The Houthi de facto authorities must immediately provide information on the whereabouts and health of all detainees. https://t.co/y8EJthxBa0 — UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) November 13, 2026