My Wife’s Unjust Incarceration in El Salvador

Mr. Louis Benavides writes from San Salvador, highlighting the dire situation faced by his wife, Ruth López, since her detainment. Ruth, a distinguished anticorruption lawyer known for her meticulous investigations, was detained by Salvadoran authorities in May 2025. Her arrest is part of a troubling trend under President Nayib Bukele’s administration, where the crackdown on dissent has taken a heavy toll.

Ruth’s work focused on exposing corruption, including fraudulent activities linked to El Salvador’s adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender. Her reputation as a leading figure in anti-corruption efforts earned her international recognition, including being named among the BBC’s 100 most influential women two years ago. However, this visibility may have made her a target for unfounded charges.

President Bukele’s government, while gaining some acclaim for reducing street crime, has wielded emergency measures to stifle opposition. Since the state of emergency was declared over four years ago, approximately 90,000 people have been detained through mass raids. Many, like Ruth, remain incarcerated without trial or access to legal representation. Families are left in the dark about the fate of their loved ones.

The absence of due process and passive courts have blurred the lines between guilty and innocent. The government’s decision to process cases in bulk, with hundreds tried simultaneously, further exacerbates injustices. Indefinite prison terms are common, and recent legislation even allows life sentences for children as young as 12.

Louis Benavides urges awareness of the human cost of President Bukele’s policies. Despite the purported gains in public safety, the oppressive use of legal mechanisms against dissenting voices raises grave concerns about human rights and the future of justice in El Salvador.