World · Latin America · 2 hrs ago
Families in El Salvador mourn prison dead and demand fair trials
Relatives of detainees gathered at San Salvador’s metropolitan cathedral to remember people who died in prison and call for justice.
They brought flowers and photographs, prayed at the tomb of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero and held a rally on the cathedral steps.
Many families have had no contact with loved ones in custody, and some do not know whether they are alive.
The gathering was held around the Day of the Dead, observed on November 1 and 2 in several Latin American countries.
El Salvador’s state of exception has enabled more than 90,000 detentions since President Nayib Bukele imposed it four years ago.
Cristosal has documented 454 deaths in prison among people detained under the measure.
Families and activists are calling for fair trials for those still detained, but no further steps are specified.
Relatives of people detained under El Salvador’s state of exception gathered at San Salvador’s metropolitan cathedral to mourn inmates who died in prison.
They also called for fair trials for detainees who remain jailed.
Many relatives said they had no contact with detained family members and did not know whether they were still alive.
Cristosal has documented 454 deaths in Salvadoran prisons among people detained under the state of exception.
The state of exception has allowed security forces to detain more than 90,000 people.
- Who
- Relatives of people detained under El Salvador’s state of exception, including members of the Mothers for Freedom movement.
- What
- They mourned inmates who died in prison and called for justice and fair trials for those still detained.
- When
- Saturday, October 31. The gathering was held ahead of the Day of the Dead, observed on November 1 and 2.
- Where
- The San Salvador metropolitan cathedral in San Salvador, El Salvador.
- Why
- To remember people who died in prison, seek answers about detained relatives and demand fair trials.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Oscar Orlando Rodriguez was arrested and, according to his mother, has been held incommunicado since.
President Nayib Bukele imposed the state of exception.
Relatives gathered at San Salvador’s metropolitan cathedral to mourn prison dead and call for fair trials.
The Day of the Dead is observed across several Latin American countries.
- Prison deaths
- Cristosal documented 454 deaths among people detained under the state of exception.
- Detentions
- More than 90,000 people have been detained under the state of exception.
- Gathering place
- San Salvador metropolitan cathedral, San Salvador.
- Oscar Orlando Rodriguez
- Arrested in July 2022; held incommunicado, according to his mother.
- Day of the Dead
- Observed on November 1 and 2.
What people are saying
I am a distraught mother, a mother who has never seen my son. I am a mother who has never seen their face or heard from them,
We are here in memory of all the innocent people who have died under the state of exception,