El Salvador’s National Civil Police arrested Ruth Eleonora López, a renowned human rights attorney, on Sunday night. López, who serves as Chief Legal Officer for Anti-Corruption at the human rights group Cristosal, has become a prominent critic of President Nayib Bukele’s regime.
According to representatives from Cristosal and reports in Salvadoran media, López was taken from her home without being allowed to contact her family or attorneys. The arrest came amid a tumultuous week for the Bukele government, which is facing growing public backlash over repressive actions against civil society.
Amnesty International and a coalition of U.S. and international human rights groups condemned the arrest, calling on Salvadoran authorities to release López and guarantee her physical safety and due process rights. The group urged President Bukele to cease all attacks against human rights defenders.
López was reportedly arrested on false charges of embezzlement related to her work with a former magistrate who was later convicted. Her family has been unable to contact her, and Cristosal has denounced the arrest as a “short-term enforced disappearance.”
The arrest is part of a broader pattern of repression against civil society in El Salvador, which has seen an increase in police presence at non-profit events and harassment by law enforcement. López’s own words have warned of the dangers of eroding checks and balances on power, saying that when these are stripped away, “the population ends up suffering those consequences.”
López is a prominent voice for human rights in El Salvador, having led investigations into corruption and human rights abuses within the government. Her detention has left her family and colleagues worried about her fate, with many fearing that she will not be treated fairly by the authorities.
Source: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/ruth-lopez-human-rights-attorney-arrested-el-salvador-1235342631