Human rights advocates warn of a troubling trend in President Bukele’s administration.
Prominent Anti-Corruption Lawyer Detained Amid Crackdown in El Salvador
Prominent Anti-Corruption Lawyer Detained Amid Crackdown in El Salvador
El Salvador's government faces backlash as prominent lawyer Ruth López is arrested in a controversial move against dissent.
In a significant development from the heart of El Salvador, Ruth López, a noted anti-corruption lawyer, was apprehended by authorities on Sunday night. López, who leads an organization dedicated to probing governmental corruption, was confirmed to be detained by the country’s attorney general, but as of Monday, no formal charges had been filed against her. The exact whereabouts of López remain unknown, raising concerns among her colleagues and human rights organizations regarding her well-being.
The attorney general's office announced her arrest through a statement insinuating that it was connected to her past involvement with Eugenio Chicas, a former government official accused of illicit financial practices. The official communication accused López of participating in the embezzlement of public funds, a claim that many see as an attempt to suppress dissenting voices in the country.
Her arrest sent shockwaves through the local and international community, fueling fears of escalating repression under President Nayib Bukele. Observers note that Bukele's administration has become increasingly authoritarian, particularly following an alliance with the Trump administration, which cultivated a stricter stance on immigration and dissent. Human rights advocates are alarmed, expressing that this marks a dangerous precedent for legal accountability and civil liberties in El Salvador.
The attorney general's office announced her arrest through a statement insinuating that it was connected to her past involvement with Eugenio Chicas, a former government official accused of illicit financial practices. The official communication accused López of participating in the embezzlement of public funds, a claim that many see as an attempt to suppress dissenting voices in the country.
Her arrest sent shockwaves through the local and international community, fueling fears of escalating repression under President Nayib Bukele. Observers note that Bukele's administration has become increasingly authoritarian, particularly following an alliance with the Trump administration, which cultivated a stricter stance on immigration and dissent. Human rights advocates are alarmed, expressing that this marks a dangerous precedent for legal accountability and civil liberties in El Salvador.
