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Mass trial begins in El Salvador
El Salvador has initiated a sweeping trial involving 486 individuals accused of affiliation with the MS-13 gang, the country's attorney general announced Tuesday. The defendants collectively face charges for over 47,000 crimes committed between 2012 and 2022.
Allegations span decade of violence
The indictment includes murder, extortion, drug trafficking, arms dealing, femicide, and forced disappearances. Prosecutors allege the suspects sought to establish a "parallel state" through territorial control, instilling fear and hindering economic and social progress in El Salvador.
Among those on trial are individuals linked to a surge of gang violence in March 2022, when 87 people were killed over a single weekend. The bloodshed prompted President Nayib Bukele to declare a "war on gangs."
Prosecution defends evidence amid criticism
The attorney general's office described the evidence as "compelling" and vowed to pursue "maximum penalties" for those convicted. However, the trial has drawn sharp criticism from United Nations experts, who argue that mass proceedings undermine defendants' rights to a fair trial and the presumption of innocence.
"Mass trials risk eroding fundamental legal protections in the name of public safety,"
UN human rights experts
State of emergency fuels controversy
Since March 2022, El Salvador has operated under a state of emergency that expands arrest powers and suspends certain constitutional rights. Authorities report detaining tens of thousands of suspected gang members, but human rights groups allege widespread arbitrary arrests.
President Bukele's supporters credit the crackdown with reducing crime, while critics warn it sacrifices due process. The UN has urged the government to uphold fair trial standards.
Trial logistics and gang background
Of the 486 defendants, 413 are in custody, while arrest warrants have been issued for 73 others being tried in absentia. The attorney general's office did not specify the expected duration of the trial.
MS-13, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. in 2025, originated in Los Angeles during the 1980s among Salvadoran civil war refugees. Its influence has since expanded across Central America, with El Salvador serving as a key stronghold.
