Prominent Anti-Corruption Activist Detained Amid Government Crackdown in El Salvador

El Salvador's government has detained Ruth López, a prominent anti-corruption lawyer, amid growing concerns that President Nayib Bukele is intensifying his crackdown on dissenting voices. López's arrest, linked to her past association with an accused former official, has sparked widespread condemnation from human rights organizations.

Ruth López, a well-known lawyer dedicated to exposing governmental corruption in El Salvador, was arrested by authorities on Sunday night. According to a statement from her employer— a human rights organization— López's arrest came without formal charges, and her location remains unknown. The country’s attorney general’s office confirmed the arrest, stating that it was connected to López's previous role as an aide to Eugenio Chicas, a former magistrate with ties to the Bukele administration. Chicas was arrested in February under charges of illicit enrichment.

Activists and human rights groups have expressed deep concern over López's detention, labeling it as a dangerous escalation in President Nayib Bukele's ongoing campaign against dissent. Critics argue that Bukele feels emboldened in his actions, particularly following his controversial dealings with former President Trump related to immigration policies. The arrest of López, who has been instrumental in probing government malfeasance, has drawn a swift reaction from both local and international communities, who view this as an alarming trend toward authoritarianism in El Salvador.