El Salvador arrests rights lawyer helping deported migrants
Source: Agence France-Presse
El Salvador arrests rights lawyer helping deported migrants
Issued on: 19/05/2025 - 19:13
Modified: 19/05/2025 - 21:43
2 min
San Salvador (AFP) – Police in El Salvador arrested a prominent human rights lawyer and critic of President Nayib Bukele who helps imprisoned Venezuelan migrants deported by the United States, prompting appeals Monday for her release.
A coalition of rights groups including Amnesty International said the arrest of Ruth Eleonora Lopez reflected a trend of growing authoritarianism under Bukele, an ally of US President Donald Trump.
The 47-year-old was detained late Sunday, accused of embezzling state funds when she worked for an electoral court a decade ago, the public prosecutor's office said.
"Neither her family nor her legal team has managed to find out her whereabouts," Cristosal, the rights group she worked for, said in a statement.
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Read more: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250519-el-salvador-arrests-rights-lawyer-helping-deported-migrants