World / Middle East
UN corrects account of staff member’s body in Houthi custody
The United Nations corrected an earlier statement Nov. 6, saying the body of human rights staff member Muhammad el-Shami remained in Houthi custody rather than having been returned to his family.
Source-checked brief: attributed UN primary-source account; no on-location reporting.
The body of a UN human rights staff member who died while detained by Yemen’s Houthi authorities remains in Houthi custody, the United Nations said Nov. 6, correcting a statement it made a day earlier.
UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said that “contrary to what I said to you yesterday,” the body of Muhammad el-Shami had not been returned. The UN describes el-Shami as having died while being arbitrarily detained by the Houthis.
The UN called on Houthi authorities to ensure a prompt, independent, impartial and effective investigation into his death and to return the body to his family without further delay to allow a dignified burial. It also called for the release of all remaining detained UN colleagues and affiliated personnel.
Asked whether UN officials were in contact with the Houthis about the body, Dujarric said, “The short answer is yes, we are.” He said there was no reason for the Houthis “to continue to detain 70 of our colleagues.” The briefing did not include a response from Houthi authorities.
What we know / what we don't
What we know
- The United Nations corrected an earlier statement Nov. 6, saying the body of human rights staff member Muhammad el-Shami remained in Houthi custody rather than having been returned to his family.
What we don't know
- This brief is based on the attributed UN statement; it is not independent field reporting.
The source record