UN staffer’s death in custody exposes Houthi ‘political extortion’ in Yemen

The United Nations is demanding a thorough investigation into the death of a human rights employee while in Houthi detention in Yemen. Mohammad el-Shami , who worked for the UN Human Rights Office, died more than a month ago but his family was only recently notified. He had been arbitrarily detained by the rebel group, which controls much of northern Yemen, since June 2024. His death has highlighted the number of UN and NGO workers targeted by the Houthis, since they captured the capital Sanaa in September 2014. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has urged the Houthi authorities in Sanaa to ensure a prompt, transparent and independent investigation into el-Shami’s death.