The United Nations Secretary-General has condemned the death of a UN human rights staff member, Mohammad el Shami, while in the custody of Houthi de facto authorities in Yemen , and called for an immediate, impartial, transparent and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
In a statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, the UN chief said he was “appalled and condemns the death” of the United Nations colleague, who served with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
The circumstances surrounding El Shami’s death remain unclear, the statement said, adding that since his detention in June 2024, the Houthi de facto authorities had provided neither information about his well-being nor proof of life, despite repeated requests from the United Nations.
The Secretary-General extended his “deepest condolences” to the family of the deceased and his colleagues at OHCHR, while expressing solidarity with all detained UN colleagues and their families. “The United Nations is urgently seeking answers from the de facto authorities about the circumstances of his death,” the statement said.
The statement noted that this was the second death of a United Nations staff member in detention by the Houthi de facto authorities, following the death of a World Food Programme colleague in February 2025.
The Secretary-General called for an “immediate, impartial, transparent and thorough investigation” into the death.
