El Salvador holds mass trial for 486 alleged members of notorious MS-13 gang

"Prosecutors allege that the charges against the gang members encompass more than 47,000 crimes committed between 2012 and 2022, including homicide, femicide, extortion, and arms trafficking."

"Human rights groups have warned that the collective prosecutions violate due process and block defendants from accessing legal counsel, raising significant concerns about the fairness of the trials."

"The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights reiterated concerns over human rights violations due to the extended state of emergency, calling for an end to its use as a crime-fighting strategy."

"Defendants are being held across five prisons, including Cecot, a maximum-security facility that symbolizes the government's zero-tolerance approach to gang violence."

A Salvadoran court has initiated a mass trial for 486 alleged members of the MS-13 gang, linked to over 47,000 crimes from 2012 to 2022. Charges include homicide, femicide, extortion, and arms trafficking. The state of emergency, in effect since 2022, has led to over 91,500 detentions and allowed for mass trials. Human rights groups express concerns over due process violations and lack of legal counsel. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has called for an end to the emergency measures, citing human rights violations.

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