Key facts
- UN human rights chief Volker Turk said el Shami must be laid to rest in a dignified manner, per his family's wishes.
- El Shami's family said the Houthis agreed in principle to an investigation in a statement earlier this week.
- Turk's office said a video circulating this week appeared to show a detained UN employee confessing.
- The Houthis have previously said those detained were part of a spy network working for the United States and Israel.
The United Nations' human rights chief on November 13 demanded the return of the body of Mohammad el Shami, a Yemeni staff member of his office who died of unknown causes after being held in Houthi custody for more than two years.
El Shami's family learned of his death on October 30, more than a month after it occurred, and has received no explanation of the cause or circumstances, according to Reuters. He had been held by the Houthi group since June 6, 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," United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said.
El Shami's family said the Houthis had agreed in principle to an investigation in a statement earlier this week. The family said: "Do not allow Mohamed 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."
There was no immediate comment from the Houthis, who have previously said those detained were part of a spy network working for the United States and Israel. 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 group may be subject to torture or ill-treatment.