Human rights organizations have raised serious allegations of hundreds of detainee deaths, torture, and possible extrajudicial executions in El Salvador, during a hearing of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in Panama. The organizations denounce widespread violations under the state of emergency imposed by President Nayib Bukele, with the death toll in prisons estimated at 582.
The hearing took place on Monday (10/26), with representatives of nongovernmental organizations presenting evidence on detention conditions and the loss of life recorded since the start of the government’s campaign against criminal gangs.
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The state of emergency has been in effect for more than four years and is a key tool in Bukele’s security policy; he maintains that the so-called “war on gangs” has reduced crime to the lowest level ever recorded in the history of this Central American country.
However, the implementation of these emergency measures has been accompanied by mass arrests and restrictions on standard judicial safeguards.
According to figures recently acknowledged by the Salvadoran Attorney General’s Office, 93,000 people have been arrested without warrants and sent to prison, while approximately 90% of detainees have not yet been tried.
At least 454 confirmed deaths and allegations of extrajudicial killings
During the hearing, David Morales, a lawyer for the nongovernmental organization Cristosal, presented evidence showing that at least 454 people have lost their lives while in pretrial detention since the state of emergency was declared.
As she noted, according to data compiled by the organizations, 78% of the detainees who died in prisons had no connection to criminal gangs.
At the same time, there are indications that in at least 87 cases, the deaths were the result of violent causes.
Morales spoke of “possible extrajudicial executions,” calling for a thorough investigation of the incidents and for those responsible to be held accountable.
Government Absence from the Hearing
It was particularly striking that the government of El Salvador was not represented at the hearing of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
The Commission’s president, Estuardo Ralon, who emphasized that their participation would have allowed for the presentation of the country’s official position and the examination of the allegations based on more complete information.
“Their presence would have allowed us to hear their explanations firsthand, to review the official information, and to enrich the dialogue,” he noted.
Allegations of beatings, sexual violence, and food deprivation
Ingrid Escobar, director of the nongovernmental organization Socorro Jurídico Humanitario (“Humanitarian Legal Aid”), cited an even higher number of victims.
According to her estimate, 582 people have died in prisons since the state of emergency was declared.
Escobar denounced that detainees transferred to correctional facilities specifically designed for individuals whom the authorities consider to be linked to organized crime face systematic mistreatment.
As she stated, “the first thing that happens is that they are greeted with a beating.”
Describing the conditions of detention, she also spoke of “sexual violence,” “denial of medical care,” and “deprivation of food and water.”
Her allegations also included a personal account, as she revealed that her brother died while in custody after having been arrested for a misdemeanor.
Bukele’s Plan to Release 5,000 People
Meanwhile, President Nayib Bukele has presented a plan to release approximately 5,000 prisoners, whom he describes as opportunistic associates of criminal gangs.
According to his announcement, eligibility for release will be assessed based on each individual’s level of involvement in criminal activities and the severity of the offenses attributed to them.
However, the plan has raised concerns among representatives of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
Riad Insanali, the IACHR’s special rapporteur for El Salvador, warned that this process could lead innocent detainees to confess to crimes they did not commit in order to secure their release.
As he pointed out, there is a risk that people who have no involvement in criminal organizations will plead guilty, believing that this will allow them to join the government’s release program.
These allegations bring the issue of human rights in El Salvador back into the spotlight, highlighting the contrast between the policy of mass arrests implemented by the Bukele administration to combat gangs and the serious concerns regarding the protection of detainees and the guarantee of fair judicial proceedings.
Source: Proto Thema
