Latest news with #Cristosal
2 hours ago
- Politics
El Salvador human rights lawyer demands public trial as police haul her before judge
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador -- SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — A lawyer from a prominent human rights organization who has been an outspoken critic of some of President Nayib Bukele's policies demanded a public trial as police brought her before a judge in El Salvador Wednesday. Prosecutors sought to charge her with illegal enrichment and jail her for six months pending trial. Observers say the case against Ruth Eleonora López is retaliation for her work while authorities allege she aided one of her former employers being prosecuted for embezzlement. Authorities arrested López at her home on May 18. The anticorruption lawyer, who works for the nongovernmental organization Cristosal, has denied the accusations. Wednesday's hearing was closed to the public as the case is under seal. As she was escorted by police through the court building Wednesday, a shackled López with a Bible between her hands, shouted: 'They're not going to silence me, I want a public trial,' according to a brief video posted by Cristosal on X. 'The people have to know.' Earlier, defense attorney Pedro Cruz, surrounded by reporters in the courthouse, said he disagreed with the decision to seal the case. He said prosecutors had done so 'because they fear they made an unfounded accusation.' She had not made her initial appearance before a judge until Monday, more than two weeks after her arrest. At that hearing, prosecutors announced the illegal enrichment, different from the original embezzlement, and requested that she be held while they continue to investigate. Cristosal has been an critic of some of Bukele's policies, including the state of emergency giving him special powers that has now been in place for more than three years. The measure restricts the right to gather, to be informed of rights and to have access to a lawyer. It extends to 15 days the time that someone can be held without charges. Some 86,000 people have been arrested under the state of emergency. López is the head of Cristosal's Anti-Corruption Unit, which has produced reports and filed legal actions related to government corruption. Mary Lawlor, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, said via X that she was closely following López's hearing. 'The state must guarantee her right to due process. She must be freed.' López's alleged wrongdoing dates to her time as an adviser to Eugenio Chicas, the former president of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal during the administration of President Salvador Sánchez Cerén (2014-2019). 'Ruth has dedicated her life to the defense of human rights and the fight against corruption,' Cristosal said in a statement last week. 'Hers is not an isolated case: it is part of a pattern of criminalization against critical voices.'
San Francisco Chronicle
3 hours ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
El Salvador human rights lawyer demands public trial as police haul her before judge
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — A lawyer from a prominent human rights organization who has been an outspoken critic of some of President Nayib Bukele's policies demanded a public trial as police brought her before a judge in El Salvador Wednesday. Prosecutors sought to charge her with illegal enrichment and jail her for six months pending trial. Observers say the case against Ruth Eleonora López is retaliation for her work while authorities allege she aided one of her former employers being prosecuted for embezzlement. Authorities arrested López at her home on May 18. The anticorruption lawyer, who works for the nongovernmental organization Cristosal, has denied the accusations. Wednesday's hearing was closed to the public as the case is under seal. As she was escorted by police through the court building Wednesday, a shackled López with a Bible between her hands, shouted: 'They're not going to silence me, I want a public trial,' according to a brief video posted by Cristosal on X. 'The people have to know.' Earlier, defense attorney Pedro Cruz, surrounded by reporters in the courthouse, said he disagreed with the decision to seal the case. He said prosecutors had done so 'because they fear they made an unfounded accusation.' She had not made her initial appearance before a judge until Monday, more than two weeks after her arrest. At that hearing, prosecutors announced the illegal enrichment, different from the original embezzlement, and requested that she be held while they continue to investigate. Cristosal has been an critic of some of Bukele's policies, including the state of emergency giving him special powers that has now been in place for more than three years. The measure restricts the right to gather, to be informed of rights and to have access to a lawyer. It extends to 15 days the time that someone can be held without charges. Some 86,000 people have been arrested under the state of emergency. López is the head of Cristosal's Anti-Corruption Unit, which has produced reports and filed legal actions related to government corruption. Mary Lawlor, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, said via X that she was closely following López's hearing. 'The state must guarantee her right to due process. She must be freed.' López's alleged wrongdoing dates to her time as an adviser to Eugenio Chicas, the former president of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal during the administration of President Salvador Sánchez Cerén (2014-2019). 'Ruth has dedicated her life to the defense of human rights and the fight against corruption,' Cristosal said in a statement last week. 'Hers is not an isolated case: it is part of a pattern of criminalization against critical voices.'
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Detained Salvadoran activist says she won't be silenced
A prominent lawyer and human rights activist arrested in El Salvador said Wednesday that she refused to be silenced by authorities as she appeared in court to face corruption charges. Ruth Lopez is a critic of President Nayib Bukele, and assists families of Venezuelan migrants deported by the United States and imprisoned in the Central American nation. "They won't silence me. I want a public trial," the 47-year-old, who is accused of "embezzlement," told reporters as she was escorted to court by police. "The people deserve to know," she added, carrying a bible. "God and the truth are with me." Lopez was arrested on May 18 and accused of embezzling state funds when she worked for an electoral court a decade ago. Her case was declared confidential by judicial authorities. Defense attorney Pedro Cruz called the accusation "unfounded." "They are afraid of what the accused has been working on and saying in her professional work," he told reporters before the hearing to determine whether Lopez would remain in detention. "Under these conditions, anyone's health would suffer, but she has strength, is certain of her innocence and hopes that justice will be served," Cruz added. A coalition of rights groups including Amnesty International said Lopez's arrest reflected a trend of growing authoritarianism under Bukele, an ally of US President Donald Trump. Lopez runs rights group Cristosal's corruption and justice division and has criticized Bukele's anti-crime policy, which has seen thousands of alleged gangsters arrested. Bukele, who is popular among Salvadorans due to his crackdown on street gangs, has brushed off criticism about his human rights record. "I don't care if they call me a dictator. I'd rather be called a dictator than see Salvadorans killed in the streets," he said during his speech Sunday. Lopez was included in a list of 100 inspiring and influential women around the world last year by the BBC, which praised her for being "passionate about law and justice." Cristosal helps families of Salvadorans caught up in Bukele's crackdown on gangs as well as more than 250 Venezuelans deported by the Trump administration, which paid El Salvador to imprison them. Trump invoked rarely used wartime laws to fly the Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador in March without any court hearings, alleging they belonged to the Tren de Aragua gang, a charge that their families and lawyers deny. mis/dr/st
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Detained Salvadoran activist says she won't be silenced
A prominent lawyer and human rights activist arrested in El Salvador said Wednesday that she refused to be silenced by authorities as she appeared in court to face corruption charges. Ruth Lopez is a critic of President Nayib Bukele, and assists families of Venezuelan migrants deported by the United States and imprisoned in the Central American nation. "They won't silence me. I want a public trial," the 47-year-old, who is accused of "embezzlement," told reporters as she was escorted to court by police. "The people deserve to know," she added, carrying a bible. "God and the truth are with me." Lopez was arrested on May 18 and accused of embezzling state funds when she worked for an electoral court a decade ago. Her case was declared confidential by judicial authorities. Defense attorney Pedro Cruz called the accusation "unfounded." "They are afraid of what the accused has been working on and saying in her professional work," he told reporters before the hearing to determine whether Lopez would remain in detention. "Under these conditions, anyone's health would suffer, but she has strength, is certain of her innocence and hopes that justice will be served," Cruz added. A coalition of rights groups including Amnesty International said Lopez's arrest reflected a trend of growing authoritarianism under Bukele, an ally of US President Donald Trump. Lopez runs rights group Cristosal's corruption and justice division and has criticized Bukele's anti-crime policy, which has seen thousands of alleged gangsters arrested. Bukele, who is popular among Salvadorans due to his crackdown on street gangs, has brushed off criticism about his human rights record. "I don't care if they call me a dictator. I'd rather be called a dictator than see Salvadorans killed in the streets," he said during his speech Sunday. Lopez was included in a list of 100 inspiring and influential women around the world last year by the BBC, which praised her for being "passionate about law and justice." Cristosal helps families of Salvadorans caught up in Bukele's crackdown on gangs as well as more than 250 Venezuelans deported by the Trump administration, which paid El Salvador to imprison them. Trump invoked rarely used wartime laws to fly the Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador in March without any court hearings, alleging they belonged to the Tren de Aragua gang, a charge that their families and lawyers deny. mis/dr/st
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
El Salvador human rights lawyer demands public trial as police haul her before judge
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — A lawyer from a prominent human rights organization who has been an outspoken critic of some of President Nayib Bukele's policies demanded a public trial as police brought her before a judge in El Salvador Wednesday. Prosecutors sought to charge her with illegal enrichment and jail her for six months pending trial. Observers say the case against Ruth Eleonora López is retaliation for her work while authorities allege she aided one of her former employers being prosecuted for embezzlement. Authorities arrested López at her home on May 18. The anticorruption lawyer, who works for the nongovernmental organization Cristosal, has denied the accusations. Wednesday's hearing was closed to the public as the case is under seal. As she was escorted by police through the court building Wednesday, a shackled López with a Bible between her hands, shouted: 'They're not going to silence me, I want a public trial,' according to a brief video posted by Cristosal on X. 'The people have to know.' She had not made her initial appearance before a judge until Monday, more than two weeks after her arrest. At that hearing, prosecutors announced the illegal enrichment, different from the original embezzlement, and requested that she be held while they continue to investigate. Cristosal has been an critic of some of Bukele's policies, including the state of emergency giving him special powers that has now been in place for more than three years. 'Ruth has dedicated her life to the defense of human rights and the fight against corruption,' Cristosal said in a statement last week. 'Hers is not an isolated case: it is part of a pattern of criminalization against critical voices.'
