Amnesty warns of 'crimes against humanity' in El Salvador jails

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San Salvador: Amnesty International has accused El Salvador of perpetrating crimes against humanity during President Nayib Bukele's long-running anti-gang campaign, alleging widespread arbitrary arrests, torture, enforced disappearances, and hundreds of fatalities in custody. According to the rights group, the country's state of emergency, which has been in place since 2022, has resulted in mass arrests and systemic human rights crimes.

According to an Amnesty International study released on Wednesday, over 90,000 people have been detained as a result of the emergency measures, with many allegedly arrested without sufficient evidence or due process. It requested an independent international investigation into suspected abuses and asked Salvadoran authorities to restore judicial safeguards.

The Bukele government has defended its security strategy, claiming that the operation has significantly reduced gang violence and turned El Salvador from one of the world's most dangerous countries to one of the region's safest. The president continues to have widespread popular support, with many citizens crediting his strategy with restoring security.

However, human rights organisations argue that the improvements in public security have come at the expense of fundamental freedoms and legal protections. Amnesty cautioned that unless accountability procedures are implemented, the alleged abuses might become entrenched and breach international human rights standards.