Latest news with #Cristosal
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawyer for Venezuelans deported to El Salvador prison arrested
The head lawyer of a human rights group representing the families of Venezuelan immigrants imprisoned in El Salvador after being deported from the United States has been arrested. Ruth López, an outspoken critic of President Nayib Bukele, was detained late on Sunday under an order from the prosecutor's office which accused her of 'embezzlement' when she worked for an electoral court a decade ago, the human rights group Cristosal said in a statement. The prosecutor's office confirmed the arrest in a post on X. López runs Cristosal's anti-corruption and justice division and has been a vocal critic of Bukele's sweeping arrests of 85,000 mostly young men without due process under the state of exception that began in 2022. Neither López's family nor her legal team knew where she was taken after police removed her from her home shortly before midnight on Sunday. 'The authorities' refusal to disclose her location or to allow access to her legal representatives is a blatant violation of due process, the right to legal defence and international standards of judicial protection,' Cristosal said in a statement. The arrest is part of an accelerating government crackdown on civil society and the free press as Bukele is apparently emboldened by his close relationship to the Trump administration, which is paying El Salvador to hold deported immigrants in its prison system. Related: Venezuelans deported by Trump are victims of 'torture', lawyers allege Earlier this month, seven journalists from the investigative news outlet El Faro, who had exposed details of Bukele's alleged deals with the country's gangs had to leave the country after they were tipped off that the government was preparing arrest warrants for them. Many other journalists and activists had already fled. In 2023, El Faro moved its business and legal operations to Costa Rica. Last week, after protesters gathered outside Bukele's house, he accused NGOs of 'manipulating' them and proposed a bill to tax 30% of all contributions to NGOs, echoing a law passed by Nicaragua's autocratic government to silence its critics. Shortly after López's arrest, Andrés Guzmán, Bukele's presidential commissioner for human rights and freedom of expression, announced his resignation, without giving a reason. In a statement, international organisations said they were 'deeply concerned at the increasingly pervasive environment of fear that threatens freedoms in the country' and called on 'US policymakers and the diplomatic community at large to urge President Bukele to cease all attacks against human rights defenders'.
Free Malaysia Today
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Salvadoran lawyer arrested on money laundering charges
Enrique Anaya was arrested at his home in the city of Santa Tecla. (Attorney-general's office of El Salvador/AFP pic) SAN SALVADOR : A Salvadoran lawyer and fierce critic of president Nayib Bukele was arrested today on charges of money laundering, the prosecutor's office said, a move branded by human rights organisations as an offensive to silence those who question the government. Bukele's hardline approach to El Salvador's powerful gangs has made him one of the world's most domestically popular leaders, even as human rights defenders raise alarm over arbitrary arrests and eroding civil liberties. Enrique Anaya, a constitutional lawyer, who has called Nayib a 'dictator' and criticised his re-election, was arrested at his home in the city of Santa Tecla. Images of Anaya handcuffed alongside police officers were shared on social media by the attorney-general's office, which stated that he will be referred to the courts in the coming days for 'money and asset laundering'. It comes after the detention this year of fellow lawyer Ruth Lopez, head of an anti-corruption unit of human rights NGO Cristosal, who was accused of embezzling state funds when she worked for an electoral court a decade ago. El Salvador's constitution does not allow successive presidential terms, but a Bukele-stacked Supreme Court allowed him to run, and he was re-elected in February 2024. 'Of course I'm afraid' Bukele, who won 85% of the votes thanks to his war against gangs, accuses his critics of leftist political activism and last week warned that 'corrupt opposition members' are not untouchable. 'I don't care if they call me a dictator. I'd rather be called a dictator than see Salvadorans killed in the streets,' he said in a speech today. Anaya responded on a television programme Tuesday that Bukele had removed 'the mask', adding 'he is what he is'. 'Here, whoever speaks, whoever criticizes, whoever does not kneel before the idol, gets imprisoned. Of course, I am afraid,' Anaya said. He said in his last X post on Friday that 'the Bukelean dictatorship is increasingly questioned and confronted internationally,' referencing criticism from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) regarding the arrest of Lopez's and other activists. Lopez has criticised Bukele's anti-crime policy, which has seen thousands of alleged gangsters arrested and jailed in harsh conditions. Her NGO Cristosal helps families of Salvadorans caught up in Bukele's crackdown on gangs, as well as more than 250 Venezuelans deported by the Trump administration, which paid El Salvador to imprison them. 'It's part of what we're living through. Unfortunately, Enrique's situation is similar to Ruth's case,' said Anaya's defence attorney, Jaime Quintanilla. 'Troubling escalation' In a statement, Cristosal described Anaya as a 'key figure in defending democratic institutions and constitutional order'. 'His arrest is part of a troubling escalation of criminalisation against those who defend the rule of law in El Salvador,' he added. An environmental lawyer and an evangelical pastor supporting a farmers' protest were arrested in May, and in February Fidel Zavala, a human rights activist, was accused of ties to gangs. Last month, Bukele's allies in the Legislative Assembly imposed a Foreign Agents Law levying a 30% tax on organisations receiving overseas funding and requiring them to join a special registry. The European Union said yesterday that the law 'could restrict society' and lamented the arrests, which Bukele responded to on X, calling it an 'aged bloc' of bureaucrats who insist 'on preaching to the rest of the world'. Bukele accuses NGOs of defending criminals and has accused the media of joining an 'organised attack' spearheaded by international groups. Anaya has stated on several occasions in interviews that Bukele's legacy will be one of 'human rights violations' and 'destruction of democracy'.
DW
08-06-2025
- Politics
- DW
El Salvador: Bukele critic arrested for money laundering – DW – 06/08/2025
The detained constitutional lawyer Enrique Anaya has recently described El Salvador President Nayib Bukele as a "dictator." A constitutional lawyer and fierce critic of El Salvador President Nayib Bukele has been arrested on charges of "money laundering," the prosecutor's office said. The lawyer, Enrique Anaya, has described Bukele as a "dictator." He was arrested at his home in the city of Santa Tecla on Saturday. Human rights organizations have said the move aims to silence those who question the government. Bukele's hardline approach to El Salvador's powerful gangs has made him immensely popular among voters. But it has also led activists to raise alarm over arbitrary arrests and diminishing civil liberties. What is Anaya accused of? Images of Anaya handcuffed alongside police officers were shared on social media by the office of El Salvador's attorney general. The authorities said Anaya will be referred to the courts for "money and asset laundering." The arrest comes after the detention this year of fellow lawyer Ruth Lopez, head of an anti-corruption unit of human rights NGO Cristosal. Lopez stands accused of embezzling state funds when she worked for an electoral court a decade ago. El Salvador's constitution officially does not allow successive presidential terms, but a Bukele-stacked Supreme Court unanimously allowed him to run, and he was reelected in February 2024 with 85% of the votes going his way. Bukele accuses his critics of leftist political activism and last week warned that "corrupt opposition members" are not untouchable. 'Whoever does not kneel before the idol, gets imprisoned' "I don't care if they call me a dictator. I'd rather be called a dictator than see Salvadorans killed in the streets," he said on Sunday. Anaya responded on a television program Tuesday that Bukele had removed "the mask," adding "he is what he is." "Here, whoever speaks, whoever criticizes, whoever does not kneel before the idol, gets imprisoned. Of course, I am afraid," Anaya said. He said in his last X post on Friday that "the Bukelean dictatorship is increasingly questioned and confronted internationally," referencing criticism from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) regarding the arrest of Lopez's and other activists. Edited by: Darko Janjevic
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Salvadoran lawyer arrested on money laundering charges
A Salvadoran lawyer and fierce critic of President Nayib Bukele was arrested Saturday on charges of money laundering, the prosecutor's office said, a move branded by human rights organizations as an offensive to silence those who question the government. Bukele's hardline approach to El Salvador's powerful gangs has made him one of the world's most domestically popular leaders, even as human rights defenders raise alarm over arbitrary arrests and eroding civil liberties. Enrique Anaya, a constitutional lawyer, who has called Nayib a "dictator" and criticized his reelection, was arrested at his home in the city of Santa Tecla. Images of Anaya handcuffed alongside police officers were shared on social media by the Attorney General's Office, which stated that he will be referred to the courts in the coming days for "money and asset laundering." It comes after the detention this year of fellow lawyer Ruth Lopez, head of an anti-corruption unit of human rights NGO Cristosal, who was accused of embezzling state funds when she worked for an electoral court a decade ago. El Salvador's constitution does not allow successive presidential terms, but a Bukele-stacked Supreme Court allowed him to run, and he was reelected in February 2024. - 'Of course I'm afraid' - Bukele, who won 85 percent of the votes thanks to his war against gangs, accuses his critics of leftist political activism and last week warned that "corrupt opposition members" are not untouchable. "I don't care if they call me a dictator. I'd rather be called a dictator than see Salvadorans killed in the streets," he said in a speech Sunday. Anaya responded on a television program Tuesday that Bukele had removed "the mask," adding "he is what he is." "Here, whoever speaks, whoever criticizes, whoever does not kneel before the idol, gets imprisoned. Of course, I am afraid," Anaya said. He said in his last X post on Friday that "the Bukelean dictatorship is increasingly questioned and confronted internationally," referencing criticism from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) regarding the arrest of Lopez's and other activists. Lopez has criticized Bukele's anti-crime policy, which has seen thousands of alleged gangsters arrested and jailed in harsh conditions. Her NGO Cristosal helps families of Salvadorans caught up in Bukele's crackdown on gangs, as well as more than 250 Venezuelans deported by the Trump administration, which paid El Salvador to imprison them. "It's part of what we're living through. Unfortunately, Enrique's situation is similar to Ruth's case," said Anaya's defense attorney, Jaime Quintanilla. -- 'Troubling escalation' -- In a statement, Cristosal described Anaya as a "key figure in defending democratic institutions and constitutional order." "His arrest is part of a troubling escalation of criminalization against those who defend the rule of law in El Salvador," he added. An environmental lawyer and an evangelical pastor supporting a farmers' protest were arrested in May, and in February Fidel Zavala, a human rights activist, was accused of ties to gangs. Last month, Bukele's allies in the Legislative Assembly imposed a Foreign Agents Law levying a 30 percent tax on organizations receiving overseas funding and requiring them to join a special registry. The European Union said on Saturday that the law "could restrict society" and lamented the arrests, which Bukele responded to on X, calling it an "aged bloc" of bureaucrats who insist "on preaching to the rest of the world." Bukele accuses NGOs of defending criminals and has accused the media of joining an "organized attack" spearheaded by international groups. Anaya has stated on several occasions in interviews that Bukele's legacy will be one of "human rights violations" and "destruction of democracy." mis/cmm/cjc/tc/md
France 24
08-06-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Salvadoran lawyer arrested on money laundering charges
Bukele's hardline approach to El Salvador's powerful gangs has made him one of the world's most domestically popular leaders, even as human rights defenders raise alarm over arbitrary arrests and eroding civil liberties. Enrique Anaya, a constitutional lawyer, who has called Nayib a "dictator" and criticized his reelection, was arrested at his home in the city of Santa Tecla. Images of Anaya handcuffed alongside police officers were shared on social media by the Attorney General's Office, which stated that he will be referred to the courts in the coming days for "money and asset laundering." It comes after the detention this year of fellow lawyer Ruth Lopez, head of an anti-corruption unit of human rights NGO Cristosal, who was accused of embezzling state funds when she worked for an electoral court a decade ago. El Salvador's constitution does not allow successive presidential terms, but a Bukele-stacked Supreme Court allowed him to run, and he was reelected in February 2024. 'Of course I'm afraid' Bukele, who won 85 percent of the votes thanks to his war against gangs, accuses his critics of leftist political activism and last week warned that "corrupt opposition members" are not untouchable. "I don't care if they call me a dictator. I'd rather be called a dictator than see Salvadorans killed in the streets," he said in a speech Sunday. Anaya responded on a television program Tuesday that Bukele had removed "the mask," adding "he is what he is." "Here, whoever speaks, whoever criticizes, whoever does not kneel before the idol, gets imprisoned. Of course, I am afraid," Anaya said. He said in his last X post on Friday that "the Bukelean dictatorship is increasingly questioned and confronted internationally," referencing criticism from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) regarding the arrest of Lopez's and other activists. Lopez has criticized Bukele's anti-crime policy, which has seen thousands of alleged gangsters arrested and jailed in harsh conditions. Her NGO Cristosal helps families of Salvadorans caught up in Bukele's crackdown on gangs, as well as more than 250 Venezuelans deported by the Trump administration, which paid El Salvador to imprison them. "It's part of what we're living through. Unfortunately, Enrique's situation is similar to Ruth's case," said Anaya's defense attorney, Jaime Quintanilla. -- 'Troubling escalation' -- In a statement, Cristosal described Anaya as a "key figure in defending democratic institutions and constitutional order." "His arrest is part of a troubling escalation of criminalization against those who defend the rule of law in El Salvador," he added. An environmental lawyer and an evangelical pastor supporting a farmers' protest were arrested in May, and in February Fidel Zavala, a human rights activist, was accused of ties to gangs. Last month, Bukele's allies in the Legislative Assembly imposed a Foreign Agents Law levying a 30 percent tax on organizations receiving overseas funding and requiring them to join a special registry. The European Union said on Saturday that the law "could restrict society" and lamented the arrests, which Bukele responded to on X, calling it an "aged bloc" of bureaucrats who insist "on preaching to the rest of the world." Bukele accuses NGOs of defending criminals and has accused the media of joining an "organized attack" spearheaded by international groups. Anaya has stated on several occasions in interviews that Bukele's legacy will be one of "human rights violations" and "destruction of democracy."
