The human rights agency Cristosal has made the difficult decision to shut down its operations in El Salvador, with its staff relocating to nearby countries amid rising threats and harassment from the police. Noah Bullock, the organization's director, announced this distressing news on Thursday. Cristosal has been at the forefront of documenting torture and abuses against individuals connected to the government's crackdown on gangs since the state of emergency began in 2022, as well as investigating corruption within President Nayib Bukele's administration.
Juanita Goebertus, head of HRW in the Americas, spoke out against the closure, emphasizing that it signifies a troubling shift in the country where speaking against power may come at a high cost. Despite requests for comments, officials from the Salvadoran government did not respond.
Earlier this year, Ruth López, the anti-corruption director, was arrested, and another lawyer, Enrique Anaya, faced incarceration after voicing concerns about Bukele. Bullock reported that police have been surveilling Cristosal staff in what he described as an alarming new wave of repression. As Bukele’s ties with the U.S. have strengthened, human rights issues have received less attention under the current administration.
