El Salvador Tries 486 MS-13 Gang Members in Mass Trial
El Salvador started a mass trial of 486 alleged MS-13 gang members at CECOT prison. Prosecutors say the defendants committed over 47,000 crimes including thousands of murders between 2012 and 2022.
El Salvador launched one of the largest gang trials in recent history, putting 486 alleged MS-13 members on trial at once. The defendants face charges for more than 47,000 crimes committed over a decade, including thousands of murders.
The trial is happening at CECOT, a maximum-security prison that President Nayib Bukele opened in 2023. The facility has become the symbol of El Salvador's harsh crackdown on gangs. The defendants are being held across five different prisons.
Bukele declared a state of emergency in 2022 to fight gang violence that had made El Salvador one of the world's most dangerous countries. The crackdown has dramatically reduced crime rates and boosted Bukele's popularity.
However, human rights groups warn that the emergency measures have led to serious abuses. They report violations of due process rights and allegations of torture in custody. The mass trial approach raises questions about whether defendants can receive fair individual hearings.
This massive trial shows how President Bukele is using extreme measures to fight gang violence that once made El Salvador one of the world's most dangerous countries. The crackdown has cut crime rates but raised concerns about human rights abuses.
The trial proceedings will continue as prosecutors present evidence against the 486 defendants.
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