In El Salvador, a phone call can lead to imprisonment with little evidence, as the country enforces a rigorous anti-gang strategy under President Nayib Bukele.
Following a surge in gang violence, the government has implemented extreme measures, including mass incarcerations and a controversial state of emergency.
Amnesty International’s Irene Cuellar highlighted that El Salvador now boasts the highest incarceration rate globally, with nearly 2% of its population in prison. The rapid increase in detainees is driven by a policy that allows anonymous tips to lead to arrests, often without substantial evidence. Cuellar noted that many detainees are held under pre-trial detention, with their guilt not yet established.
The hotline established in May 2022 has intensified the crackdown, allowing citizens to report suspected gang members anonymously. However, this approach has led to wrongful imprisonments, especially in impoverished communities where gangs have historically had firm control. Cuellar criticised this strategy for failing to address underlying issues and for the inhumane conditions faced by prisoners.
In response to overcrowding, the Salvadorian Parliament has resorted to collective trials, sometimes involving up to 900 people at once. Amnesty International has condemned this practice as a violation of human rights, arguing it undermines the right to a fair defence.
The state of emergency, declared in March 2022, followed a brutal escalation of violence, with 60 people killed in a single day due to a truce breakdown between MS-13, Barrio 18, and the government. The ensuing mass arrests saw 70,000 people, or 2% of the population, detained, dramatically increasing the country’s incarceration rate while reducing violence.
President Bukele’s “war on gangs” has been marked by aggressive tactics, including the establishment of the Cecot prison, described as the world’s largest mega-prison. Designed to hold up to 40,000 gang members, Cecot’s conditions have drawn criticism from human rights advocates.
Bukele, who presents himself as a decisive leader in the fight against gangs, has claimed that the harsh conditions are necessary to eradicate gang influence.
Despite the reduction in violence, rights groups estimate that between 10,000 to 15,000 innocent people may have been caught up in the crackdown.
Bukele’s administration maintains that the brutal measures are essential for restoring order and breaking the gang hold over El Salvador.
