Afrah al-Zouba, Yemen’s foreign minister, has called for the Houthis to be held accountable following the death in their custody of Mohammed Ibrahim al-Shami, an employee of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Al-Zouba said on X on Sunday, November 1, that the Houthis bore full responsibility for the UN staff member’s death.
She added that the international community must take decisive action to hold those responsible accountable.
Yemen’s foreign minister stressed that al-Shami’s suffering did not begin with his death but dated back to his abduction in June 2024 and his enforced disappearance.
According to her, his family had been denied contact with him and kept unaware of his fate throughout this period.
Al-Zouba called on the United Nations and the Security Council to take action to compel the Houthis to release all detainees.
According to the United Nations, Mohammed al-Shami was arbitrarily detained by the Houthis two years ago.
This is the second reported death of a UN staff member while in Houthi custody in Yemen.
