UN demands investigation after death of staff member held in Houthi custody

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has called for an urgent investigation into the death of a UN staff member in Houthi custody. Mohammad el Shami, who worked at the UN Human Rights Office in Yemen, died after being "arbitrarily held" by the Houthis since 6 June 2024, according to a statement from the high commissioner's office on Saturday. Shami's family said he had died more than a month ago but that they had only recently been informed, per the statement. Türk called his death a "heartbreaking loss" for the UN as he expressed his condolences to Shami's family and loved ones.