The United Nations demanded an investigation into the death of Mohammad el-Shami, a staff member of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Yemen, in Houthi custody.

El-Shami died more than a month ago, and his family was only recently informed, the UN said in a statement on Saturday, according to Al Jazeera. High Commissioner Volker Türk demanded “full transparency” from the Houthi authorities and an “urgent, independent and thorough investigation”, and said the family “deserves to know the truth”. El-Shami had been arbitrarily held since June 2024, when he and more than 60 people working with the UN and other NGOs were detained and accused of being part of an “American-Israeli spy network”. Türk said seven other OHCHR staff detained alongside him remain in custody and called for their immediate and unconditional release.