Yemen's Foreign Minister: Houthi Custody Cost UN Worker His Life

Yemen’s Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba demanded that the Houthi movement be held responsible for the death of United Nations human rights employee Mohammed Ibrahim al-Shami. Al-Shami died after spending more than two years in the group’s custody. The minister issued the statement on November 1, 2026, marking the first day of the new year in the region’s geopolitical calendar.

In a post on the social media platform X, al-Zouba characterized the death as a horrific crime for which the militia bears full responsibility. She urged the international community to take decisive action against those responsible for the killing. The diplomat emphasized that the tragedy began long before his death. It started with his abduction in June 2024 and his subsequent enforced disappearance.

Al-Zouba highlighted that al-Shami’s family was deprived of any communication with him during his detention. They did not know his fate until his death was announced. The foreign minister called on the United Nations and its Security Council to pressure the Houthis to release all abductees. She argued that the value of a human life does not vary based on nationality or employer.

The minister noted that al-Shami was not the first victim of the group’s detention practices. A United Nations World Food Programme employee and a Save the Children staff member died while in Houthi custody before al-Shami. Al-Zouba stated that the tragedy will continue as long as the pattern of impunity persists. She described the current situation as a test of the international system’s credibility.

The foreign minister demanded that al-Shami’s family be given the right to know the truth. She called for an independent investigation that would have access to his custody records and medical files. This investigation should determine specific responsibilities for his death. Al-Zouba insisted that the right of remaining detainees to freedom should not wait for the results of such an inquiry.

She requested that the UN and the Security Council take measures to force the militia to release all captives immediately and unconditionally. This group includes UN staff, humanitarian organization workers, civil society members, and local employees of diplomatic missions. The minister also demanded guarantees for their medical treatment and communication with their families. She called for the fate of those who are still being held in enforced disappearance to be revealed.

Al-Zouba rejected any delay in the release of Yemeni employees based on fieldwork requirements. She stated that the release of staff is a duty that does not accept selectivity. The foreign minister concluded her post by expressing condolences to al-Shami’s family and colleagues. She prayed for his soul and asked for patience for his loved ones.