A court in El Salvador has begun one of the largest mass trials in its history, prosecuting 486 alleged members of the Mara Salvatrucha gang, commonly known as MS-13, as part of President Nayib Bukele’s sweeping crackdown on gang violence.
Prosecutors say the defendants face charges linked to more than 47,000 crimes committed between 2012 and 2022, including homicide, femicide, extortion and arms trafficking.
The trial, which opened on Tuesday in Soyapango, is being conducted under emergency powers introduced in 2022 and repeatedly extended since. The measures have enabled authorities to detain more than 91,500 people suspected of gang ties and allowed courts to carry out collective prosecutions.
Supporters of the crackdown say it has significantly reduced crime in the country, once considered one of the most violent in the world. However, critics argue the approach undermines legal safeguards.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights reiterated concerns this week, warning that mass trials and prolonged emergency powers risk violating due process and limiting access to legal counsel.
Many of the accused are being held in multiple detention centres, including the high-security CECOT facility, which has become a symbol of the government’s zero-tolerance strategy against gangs.
Human rights organisations continue to call for an end to the state of emergency, urging authorities to balance security measures with judicial protections.
Source: Reuters
