New York (South24 Center) 

UN Secretary-General, António Guterres renewed his call on Monday (June 2) for Yemen's Houthi group to immediately and unconditionally release dozens of UN staff, non-governmental organization workers, and staff of diplomatic missions, one year after their arbitrary detention.

In a statement, Guterres noted that many detainees had been held since June 2024, alongside others kidnapped in previous years (2021, 2023) and as recently as January 2025. He strongly condemned the death of a World Food Programme employee in a Houthi-run Saada prison earlier this year, emphasizing that the group had provided no explanation regarding the circumstances.

The UN chief demanded an immediate, transparent, and comprehensive investigation into the incident and accountability.

He urged the Houthis to release all those arbitrarily detained, vowing to use "all possible channels" to secure their release. He warned that these detentions undermine their humanitarian operations as well as peace mediation efforts.

He said the UN and its humanitarian partners should never be targeted, arrested or detained while carrying out their mandates for the benefit of the people they serve.

Appealing to the Houthis to abide by the spirit of Eid al-Adha, Guterres urged the group to show mercy and reunite the families facing another holiday without their loved ones.

Press Freedom Crackdown

The UN chief’s statement coincides with a renewed Houthi crackdown on journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) revealed on Monday that the group abducted four journalists in Hodeidah between May 21-23 and imprisoned a fifth in Sanaa on May 24:

Those abducted include:

• Abduljabbar Ziad: Freelance photographer.

• Hassan Ziad: Correspondent for Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

• Abdulaziz Al-Nuam: Director of Soura Media Production Center.

• Waleed Ali Ghalib: Deputy head of Yemeni Journalists' Syndicate.

On May 24, a Houthi court sentenced prominent journalist Mohammed Al-Miyahi to 18 months in jail for criticizing Top Houthi leader, Abdulmalik al-Houthi, online. Al-Miyahi was ordered to sign a pledge not to resume his journalistic work, and pay a guarantee of 5 million Yemeni riyal ($9,300), which he would forfeit if he publishes "anti-state" material.

CPJ’s Regional Director Sara Qudah said these incidents exemplify “the Houthis’ escalating assault on press freedom”, adding, “We call on Houthi authorities to immediately release all detained journalists and stop weaponizing the law and courts to legitimize their repression of independent voices.”