Sanaa, Nov. 1 -- A Yemeni employee of the United Nations Human Rights Office has died in Houthi custody after more than two years of detention, prompting calls for an independent investigation and the release of other detainees.

Mohammad el Shami had been arbitrarily detained since June 6, 2024. His family was informed of his death only recently, more than a month after it occurred, according to a press release issued by the UN Human Rights Office.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk described his death as devastating and called for a prompt, independent and thorough investigation.

In the press release, Turk said the family had not received an explanation about the circumstances of his death. He demanded the disclosure of...