UN Staff Member Dies in Houthi Custody in Yemen, Prompting Outrage and Calls for Investigation

A Yemeni UN Human Rights Office staff member, Mohammad El Shami, has died in Houthi custody after being arbitrarily detained since June 2024. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the death, marking the second such incident for a UN employee in Houthi detention, and the UN human rights chief demanded an urgent, independent investigation and the immediate release of all detained personnel.