Amnesty warns of 'crimes against humanity' in El Salvador jails

Arbitrary arrests and hundreds of deaths in El Salvador's prisons could amount to "crimes against humanity," Amnesty International warned Wednesday.

President Nayib Bukele's war on gangs has reduced violence in El Salvador to historic lows, making the self-styled "world's coolest dictator" one of the most popular leaders in Latin America.

Over 90,000 arbitrary arrests have taken place in the Central American country since Bukele declared a state of emergency in 2022, according to rights group Amnesty.

It also alleged at least 470 deaths in detention in a report released Wednesday.

"In several cases, injuries incompatible with the official causes of death or signs of physical violence and medical negligence were recorded," it added.

Most of those who died had not even been convicted, Amnesty's regional director Ana Piquer said during an online presentation of the findings.

Mass detentions, allegations of torture and deaths in state custody "cannot be understood as isolated incidents, but rather as part of a pattern of abuse that, given their scale and organization, could amount to crimes against humanity," the report stressed.

A group of jurists in March accused the Bukele government of violating human rights via torture and forced disappearances.

The hardline leader will seek a third presidential term in national polls scheduled for February 2027, after amending the constitution last year to abolish term limits. 

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