El Salvador Mass Trial for MS-13 Gang Members

A mass trial of 486 alleged MS-13 gang members has begun in El Salvador, with the group collectively accused of committing over 47,000 crimes between 2012 and 2022. The trial is being held via video link, with the attorney general's office claiming to have 'compelling' evidence to secure 'maximum penalties' for those found guilty. Human rights groups have criticized the mass trial, citing concerns over the right to defence and the presumption of innocence. The trial is part of El Salvador's efforts to crack down on gang violence under President Nayib Bukele's administration.

Nearly 490 alleged members of the MS-13 gang, including several leaders, went on trial in El Salvador for thousands of murders and other crimes committed between 2012 and 2022. The trial is part of President Nayib Bukele's anti-gang crackdown, which has resulted in a significant decrease in crime but has also been criticized for human rights abuses. The defendants are accused of rebellion, homicides, and other crimes, and face potentially severe punishments. Human rights groups have denounced the mass trials, citing concerns about due process and the risk of innocent people being punished.

El Salvador has held a mass trial for 486 alleged members of the MS-13 gang, including its leaders, as part of the government's crackdown on gang violence under emergency powers. The trial is one of the largest in the country's history, with defendants accused of over 47,000 crimes between 2012 and 2022, including homicide, femicide, extortion, and arms trafficking. Human rights groups have raised concerns that the collective prosecutions violate due process and block defendants from accessing legal counsel. The trial is being held across five prisons, with the defendants facing up to 245 years in prison if found guilty. The government's crackdown on gangs has been criticized by human rights organizations, who argue that it suspends the rights to a legal defense and inviolability of communications.