El Salvador Must End Criminalization of Peaceful Protest: Amnesty International calls for Full Release of Rights Defenders
December 17, 2025 – Amnesty International welcomes the release of alejandro Henríquez and José Ángel Pérez, unjustly detained for months in El Salvador. Though, this positive advancement underscores a critical issue: exercising the right to peaceful protest should never be a crime.
“We celebrate their release, but it’s vital to remember they should never have been imprisoned or subjected to criminal proceedings in the first place,” states Ana Piquer, Regional Director for the Americas at Amnesty International. This case highlights a disturbing trend of suppressing dissent within the country.
The Erosion of Peaceful Assembly Rights
International law is clear. States cannot utilize the criminal justice system to punish or deter individuals participating in peaceful demonstrations. The charges leveled against Henríquez and Pérez – “aggressive resistance” and “public disorder” – are incompatible with internationally recognized standards protecting freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Furthermore, the use of abbreviated proceedings - requiring acceptance of charges for release – raises serious concerns about due process. This practice compromises basic rights and undermines fair legal proceedings.
beyond Henríquez and Pérez: A Wider Pattern of Repression
While the release of these two individuals is a step forward, Amnesty International stresses that numerous other human rights defenders and dissenting voices in El Salvador remain unjustly targeted.
These include:
* fidel Zavala
* Enrique Anaya
* And others facing criminal proceedings and arbitrary detention.
These individuals are being punished simply for exercising their rights or expressing criticism of government policies. This is unacceptable.
“Among this good news, we must not forget that other human rights defenders…continue to be subjected to criminal proceedings and arbitrary deprivation of liberty solely for exercising their rights,” emphasizes Piquer.
A Call to Action: Upholding International Obligations
The Salvadoran authorities have a clear international obligation to protect,not punish,those who defend human rights. Criminalizing peaceful dissent is a direct violation of this obligation.
Amnesty international urges the salvadoran government to:
* Guarantee the freedom of all human rights defenders.
* Immediately close all proceedings against individuals detained solely for exercising their rights.
* Respect and uphold the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
No one should face criminalization for peacefully raising their voice. The future of a just and democratic El salvador depends on it.
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