Political Prisoners in El Salvador 2026: Cases and Context of the Bukele Regime

Are There Political Prisoners in El Salvador?

The Salvadoran government, led by Nayib Bukele, categorically denies the existence of political prisoners. However, international human rights organizations, the United Nations, and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights have documented at least 86 cases of people detained for political reasons since the implementation of the State of Exception in March 2022.

The most emblematic case on this list is that of Ruth Eleonora López Alfaro, an anti-corruption lawyer declared a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International in July 2025 and arbitrarily detained since May 18 of that year.

Profile of the 86 Political Prisoners

The figure of 86 political prisoners was documented and published in March 2026 by Cristosal, before its forced exile, in collaboration with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The list includes:

Human rights defenders: At least 18 people, including lawyers, community leaders, and activists, have been detained for their work defending fundamental rights. Ruth López is the most well-known case.

Journalists and communicators: Twelve journalists have been temporarily detained under the State of Exception. Most were released following international intervention, but several face judicial proceedings on charges of "advocacy of crime" or "public disorder" — charges that are allegedly fabricated.

Political opponents: At least 7 people linked to opposition parties have been detained, including candidates and former officials from previous administrations, accused of "negotiations with gangs" without public evidence.

LGTBIQ+ community members: Organizations such as COMCAVIS TRANS have documented that over 30 LGTBIQ+ individuals have been detained under the State of Exception in what appears to be a pattern of persecution based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

The Pattern of Political Persecution

International organizations have identified a systematic pattern in the persecution of human rights defenders under the State of Exception:

Step 1 — Prior criminalization: Before detention, the person is labeled in government-friendly media as an "opponent" or "gang defender."

Step 2 — Warrantless arrest: Under the legal cover of the State of Exception, security forces may arrest without a judicial order if there is "well-founded suspicion."

Step 3 — Isolation and incommunication: Detainees are held incommunicado for prolonged periods. Ruth López has been incommunicado for over 365 days.

Step 4 — Fabricated or changing charges: The Attorney General's Office presents charges that change over time as initial accusations collapse. In Ruth's case, charges went from embezzlement to illicit enrichment without substantial evidence.

Step 5 — Trials without guarantees: When cases go to trial, they occur in a context where the judiciary has been reformed and independent judges have been removed.

What You Can Do

• Learn about the [State of Exception](/es/blog/regimen-excepcion-el-salvador) context that enables these detentions.
• Sign the petition on Avaaz demanding the release of Ruth López and other prisoners of conscience.
• Follow Ruth's case through the [case timeline](/es/blog/timeline-dias-detencion) and share updates.
• Share this article on social media with #FreeRuth and #NoMorePoliticalPrisoners.