Yemen.. The death of Muhammad Al-Shami after more than two years of his detention by the Houthis and international demands for an investigation

The United Nations announced the death of the Yemeni employee at the United Nations Human Rights Office, Mohammed Al-Shami, while in Houthi detention for more than two years. According to a report published by the United Nations News page, Mohammed Al-Shami has been “arbitrarily detained by the Houthis since June 6, 2024.”

According to information from his family, Al-Shami was killed more than a month ago, but the family was not informed until recently. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, urged, in a statement on Saturday, “the de facto Houthi authorities to ensure an urgent investigation in this regard,” adding: “It is a huge loss for the United Nations Human Rights Office and the entire United Nations system.”

Muhammad's family has received no explanation of the cause or circumstances of his death. The Commissioner for Human Rights called for "full transparency from the Houthi authorities, and an urgent, independent and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of the death."

He said this "requires the disclosure of all relevant medical records relating to detention, the preservation of evidence, and independent scrutiny of any declared cause of death. He stressed the need for accountability for any wrongdoing."

According to what was stated in the statement, Turk expressed “deep concern about the safety and well-being of other United Nations personnel who remain in detention, including 7 employees of his office, as well as humanitarian and civil society workers,” and appealed again, “for their immediate and unconditional release. Until they are released, he stressed the need for the de facto Houthi authorities to guarantee their safety, their humane treatment, the provision of health care, communication with their families, and UN access to them.”