Prisons of El Salvador overflow as gang crackdown brings safety but raises fair trial concerns
Jan 29, 2025 #ElSalvador #ElSalvadorGangCrackdown #ElSalvadorGangs
El Salvador’s government has implemented a sweeping crackdown on gang viol
Jan 29, 2025 #ElSalvador #ElSalvadorGangCrackdown #ElSalvadorGangs
El Salvador’s government has implemented a sweeping crackdown on gang violence, drastically reducing crime and transforming the country from one of the most violent to one of the safest in the Americas. Thousands of alleged gang members have been detained and housed in CECOT, the world’s largest maximum-security prison, often in overcrowded conditions with limited freedoms. While the crackdown enjoys broad public support and the president’s approval ratings remain high, concerns have been raised about due process. NGOs report arrests made with minimal evidence, mass trials, and detainees held for extended periods without sentencing. Families of those imprisoned express frustration and uncertainty, claiming some are innocent.
Al Jazeera’s John Holman reports from Cecot prison in Tecoluca, El Salvador.
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