Yemenupdated 26m ago2 min read
UN Rights Chief Volker Türk Demands Houthis Return Body of Yemeni Staff Member Mohammad El Shami
“UN Demands Houthis Return Body of UN Staff Member...”
“calls for all detained @UN and humanitarian personnel to be released immediately and unconditionally.”
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Türk demanded Houthis return body of Yemeni UN staffer Mohammad al-Shami who died in custody Detention by Houthis since 2024; family learned of death Oct 30, with no cause given
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Body held since 2024
The UN human rights chief Volker Türk demanded the return of the body of Yemeni staff member Mohammad el Shami, after the Houthis held his body since 2024. Türk said, "Our colleague must be laid to rest in a dignified manner," and he tied the demand to the family being denied contact with Shami during his detention.
“Mohammad el Shami's body has been held by the Houthis since 2024.”
The family learned of Shami's death on October 30, more than a month after it occurred, and the sources said they received no explanation of the cause or circumstances. The sources said Shami had been detained by the Houthi group since June 6, 2024, and they described the death as being of unknown causes weeks earlier.
Family calls for truth
Shami's family said the Houthis agreed in principle to conduct an investigation into his death, according to a statement released earlier this week. The family also said, “Don’t let Mohammed die twice—once when he was disappeared from his family for 29 months, and again when the truth about the circumstances of his death is allowed to remain hidden.”
The sources said there was no immediate comment from the Houthis, and they noted the group had previously said those detained were part of a spy network working for the United States and Israel. Türk's office said a video circulating this week appeared to show one of the detainees "making a confession," and it voiced fears that detainees may be subjected to torture or ill-treatment.
Detentions and next steps
The sources said more than 70 UN employees and dozens of humanitarian workers remain detained in Yemen, placing the demand for Shami's body within a broader detention picture. Türk's office said the video raised concerns that detainees may be subjected to torture or ill-treatment, and it framed the call for return as part of protecting those in custody.
The Middle East Eye account included a social media post from UN Human Rights that said Türk demanded the body be returned "without delay" and urged urgent steps to establish the date, cause and circumstances of Shami's death. The Jerusalem Post account said Türk called on the Houthis to return the body of a Yemeni staff member who died of unknown causes weeks ago after being held in Houthi custody for more than two years.