The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, made public this Saturday the death, while in the custody of the Houthi authorities, of one of the workers from his office in Yemen, and has called for an investigation into what happened.
The deceased employee is Mohamad el Shami, of Yemeni nationality, who was part of the UN Office for Human Rights in Yemen and who had remained "arbitrarily detained" since June 6, 2024. El Shami's family has indicated that the death occurred more than a month ago, although they had not been informed until now.
"It is absolutely devastating," Turk said in an official statement in which he demands "an immediate investigation by the Houthi 'de facto' authorities".
"It is a heartbreaking loss for the UN Office for Human Rights and for the United Nations in general. Mohamad's family has received no explanation about the causes or circumstances of his death. They deserve to know the truth," the high commissioner emphasized.
In this context, he has called for "total transparency" and an "urgent, independent and thorough" investigation to clarify his death. "It is necessary that all medical and detention records be handed over, that evidence be preserved, and that the cause of death be investigated independently. There must be accountability," Turk added.
The UN Human Rights official has recalled that other United Nations employees remain detained, including seven members of the office he heads, in addition to humanitarian workers and civil society workers, for whom he calls for their "immediate and unconditional release." While their detention continues, the Houthi authorities "must guarantee their safety, humane treatment, access to necessary medical care, contact with their families and access for the UN".
Likewise, he has warned that these detentions "seriously undermine the ability to support the people of Yemen during the severe humanitarian and human rights crisis". "I urge them to change course," he concluded.