El Salvador Cracks Down on Human Rights Defenders, Amnesty International Warns
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (March 5, 2026) – A year after his detention, concerns are mounting over the prolonged pre-trial imprisonment of Fidel Antonio Zavala Pérez, a spokesperson for the Unidad de Defensa de Derechos Humanos y Comunitarios (UNIDEHC) in El Salvador. Amnesty International is sounding the alarm over what it describes as a troubling trend of criminalizing human rights work within the country.
Zavala was initially detained in February 2025 following a raid on UNIDEHC headquarters, alongside over 20 community leaders defending land rights in the “La Floresta” area. Arrest warrants were also issued for fellow UNIDEHC spokespersons, lawyers Ivania Cruz and Rudy Joya.
The case highlights a disturbing pattern, according to Ana Piquer, Americas director at Amnesty International. “What we are witnessing in the case of UNIDEHC spokespersons is evidence of a worrying trend of unlawful use of criminal law against those working to defend the rights of communities,” Piquer stated. “When justice becomes a weapon for intimidation, the rule of law is undermined and a message of deterrence sent to those reporting abuses.”
Since his arrest, Zavala has faced a series of legal proceedings, including the reopening of a previously closed case. Despite being acquitted or having cases dismissed in three separate instances throughout 2025, he remains in custody, currently facing charges of criminal association and illegal land sales related to the La Floresta case.
Amnesty International is questioning the justification for Zavala’s continued detention. “Pre-trial detention should be a measure that is exceptional, necessary and proportional,” Piquer emphasized. “When extended without sufficient justification and combined with the opening of multiple proceedings, serious doubts arise regarding respect for the presumption of innocence and the right to a trial within a reasonable time.”
The organization points out that prolonged pre-trial detention violates international standards to which El Salvador is a party, including prohibitions against arbitrary detention and guarantees of a timely trial and the presumption of innocence.
Adding to the concerns, Zavala had previously reported alleged acts of torture and other human rights violations occurring within Salvadoran prisons. Amnesty International fears for his safety and well-being while in custody, urging authorities to guarantee humane conditions and protect those who report abuses.
The broader context of the La Floresta case also raises red flags. More than 20 community leaders were detained in the initial operation, and arrest warrants for Cruz and Joya remain outstanding, some issued through INTERPOL.
“The criminalization of community leaders and lawyers must be analysed as a whole,” Piquer said. “When prolonged detention, broad accusations and the activation of international mechanisms are used together, the aim is to strip all protections from those who organize to defend their rights.”
Amnesty International is calling on the Salvadoran authorities to ensure the physical and psychological integrity of Zavala and all those detained in connection with the La Floresta case, to immediately reassess the need for pre-trial detention, and to guarantee due process in accordance with international standards. The organization also urges a halt to the use of the judicial system to criminalize legitimate human rights work.
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