Human rights group leaves El Salvador over crackdown on criticism

Human rights group leaves El Salvador over crackdown on criticism

A prominent human rights organization supporting the government of El Salvador and criticized President Nayib Bukele, has suspended its activities in the country. The reason is the government's harassment, repression and persecution of human rights defenders.

Continuation of work from abroad

Cristosal Executive Director Noah Bullock said the organization would continue to operate from Guatemala and Honduras as the Salvadoran government's measures made its work more difficult. “We are forced to choose between prison or exile,” Bullock said at a news conference in Guatemala City on Thursday.

Harsh measures against civil society

Bukele leads a rigorous one intervention against crime, which is also directed against civil society groups and journalists. While the government defends its measures by saying that gang crime has fallen sharply across the country, opponents claim that the strategy has led to mass arrests and a decline in civil rights.

Detention of Human Rights Lawyer

Cristosal's announcement comes nearly two months after one of its members, lawyer and human rights activist Ruth Eleonora López, was arrested by Salvadoran authorities for alleged illicit enrichment arrested became. López has denied the charges and asked for a public trial. The organization's leaders believe that her arrest is not an isolated incident but represents a turning point for the organization.

Growing threats and uncertainties

“Given the threats we have received, the criminalization of Ruth and the limited options for security guarantees, being outside the country but free is more useful (to the cause) than if we were put in prison in El Salvador,” Bullock stressed. Abraham Ábrego, the head of Cristosal's legal department, also added: "Currently, El Salvador does not offer the conditions to continue this work on the ground."

The challenges for human rights organizations

Cristosal has been working in El Salvador for 25 years. Under Bukele's administration, the organization has conducted numerous investigations and condemned what it sees as a lack of transparency, accountability and an erosion of democracy and human rights violations. However, the government has accused organizations like Cristosal of being political activists and ignoring the rights of Salvadorans.

Other organizations in exile

Cristosal is the latest organization to be forced out of El Salvador as part of the government's repressive measures. The investigative medium El Faro has been conducting the majority of its operations in exile from Costa Rica since 2023. Several journalists from the media fled the country earlier this year because they feared arrest for their reporting.

The Foreign Agents Act

Another obstacle for Cristosal is the Foreign Agents Law, which imposes a 30% tax on NGOs on transactions, disbursements, donations or in-kind donations financed from abroad. According to the law, this income should be used for projects of general or social interest. Human rights groups have called this legislation an existential threat.

Criticism of the legislation

“The intent is to arbitrarily apply the law to silence or even criminalize us and other human rights organizations,” Bullock continued. "The Foreign Agents Law allows the authorities to control any organization at their discretion and imposes a tax on these organizations. Only the government will have the discretion as to who they will charge and who not," Ábrego added.

The law gives NGOs until September 4 to register with the Interior Ministry. Otherwise, they will no longer be able to operate and face fines ranging from $100,000 to $250,000. Cristosal has already submitted its registration but has not yet received a response.