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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Inquiries Contact: press@alianzaamericas.org
Cindy Cruz - El Salvador +503 7803 8465
Sandra Diaz - United States (773) 638-4278
Ruth López, Lawyer, Head of Cristosal's Anti-Corruption Unit was arrested last night by the National Police in El Salvador. At this moment, it is unknown where she is being held, and therefore she cannot have access to legal representation and contact her family. The practice of detaining people without informing where they are deprived of their liberty, preventing them from exercising their right to defense is a violation of their right to due process, and is also an enforced disappearance.
Ruth López is a human rights defender who has been involved in multiple cases of deprivation of liberty and anti-corruption in El Salvador, including in the current administration of President Nayib Bukele. The Attorney General's Office announced that Ruth is accused of corruption during the Sanchez Ceren administration.
As civil society organizations, we are familiar with and value the work of Cristosal. We express our deep concern and denounce this fact as part of a disturbing pattern of criminalization against critical and independent voices. In the context of massive violations of the human rights of persons deprived of their liberty:
We demand that the Salvadoran State:
We are concerned about the loss of independence of the administration of justice and the guarantee of the rights of persons deprived of liberty in El Salvador. We call on the international community, human rights defenders, and all people committed to justice to raise our voices for Ruth Lopez, a courageous woman human rights defender, who is fighting for justice in her country.
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Alianza Americas is the premier transnational advocacy network of Latin American migrant-led organizations working in the United States, across the Americas, and globally to create an inclusive, equitable and sustainable way of life for communities across North, Central and South America.
