Mohammad el-Shami had been held since June 2024, when he and many other UN and NGO workers were accused of being spies. The UN Secretary-General expressed condolences, demanded an investigation and reiterated calls for the immediate, unconditional release of detained UN personnel | World. UN Chief Demands Impartial Probe into Death of Staffer in Houthi Custody - The United Nations Secretary-General has strongly condemned the death of Mohammad el Shami, a UN.