Lawyer's Arrest Sparks Fears of Growing Authoritarianism in El Salvador

El Salvador has recently seen a troubling event unfold. A well-known lawyer, Ruth Eleonora López, was taken into custody. She is known for her outspoken criticism of President Nayib Bukele. This arrest has raised eyebrows among human rights groups. They see it as a sign of increasing authoritarian tendencies in the country. López is the head of the Anti-Corruption and Justice Unit at Cristosal. She is accused of being involved in the theft of government funds. The Attorney General’s Office in El Salvador made this claim. They stated that evidence gathered during raids points to her involvement in these alleged crimes. The situation took a dramatic turn when authorities showed up at López's home. They reportedly used a false story about a traffic accident to lure her outside. Once outside, she was detained. Her family and colleagues were not shown a warrant. They also do not know the exact charges against her, beyond what was posted online. This incident is not an isolated one. It fits a pattern where activists are detained, cut off from their families, and their locations are kept secret. López's mother and husband spoke out about this at a press conference. They were joined by leaders from Cristosal. They expressed concern over the lack of transparency and the violation of human rights. López has been a vocal critic of Bukele's government. She has spoken out against the lack of transparency in how the government handles public funds. She has also criticized the state of emergency measures. These measures have led to the suspension of constitutional rights. López has also been critical of the government's decision to invest in Bitcoin and endorse mining activities. Bukele has been in power since 2019. He has implemented strict measures to combat crime and gang violence. In 2022, he declared a state of emergency. This allowed the government to suspend certain constitutional rights temporarily. The measure was supposed to last 30 days but has been extended multiple times. Since then, nearly 87, 000 people have been arrested nationwide. That's more than 1% of the population. The government claims these measures have made the country safer. However, critics argue that they have led to numerous wrongful detentions and human rights violations. International groups, including Amnesty International, have condemned López's arrest. They see it as a tool to silence critical voices.