Cristosal, a leading human rights organization in El Salvador, has come under severe political pressure from President Nayib Bukele’s administration. The group has long been criticized for its investigations into prison deaths and reports of torture within the country’s detention facilities. Recent months have seen an intensification of this pressure, with the organization’s staff subjected to threats, surveillance, and harassment.
Ruth López, the organization’s anti-corruption director, has become a focal point of this escalating tension. López was arrested in May and continued to face legal challenges as she left the country in June. Her departure has raised international concerns about the state of human rights in El Salvador and the broader implications for political repression in the region.