UN rights chief demands Houthis return body of staff member who died in custody

The UN's human rights chief on Friday demanded the return of the body of a Yemeni staff member of his office who died of unknown causes weeks ago, after more than two years in Houthi custody.

Mohammed al-Shami's family learned of his death on 30 October, more than a month after it happened, and has received no explanation of the cause or circumstances.

Al-Shami had been held by the Houthis since 6 June 2024.

"Our colleague must be laid to rest in a dignified manner, in accordance with the wishes of his family – which was denied contact with him for two years while he was in detention," said Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights.