UN human rights chief calls on Houthis to return body of Yemeni staff member who died in custody

The UN's human rights chief demanded the return of the body of a Yemeni staff member who died in Houthi custody after more than two years. The family learned of his death on October 30, with no explanation of the cause. Over 70 UN employees remain detained in Yemen.

The UN's human rights chief, Volker Turk, demanded on Friday that the Houthis return the body of Mohamed 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 have received no explanation of the cause or circumstances. Turk called for a dignified burial in accordance with the family's wishes, who were denied contact with him during his detention. The family stated that the Houthis had agreed in principle to an investigation. The Houthis 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. A video circulating this week appeared to show one detainee confessing, raising fears of torture or ill-treatment.