Inside El Salvador's Mass Trials: The War on Gangs Under Scrutiny

Inside a Salvadoran mega prison, more than one hundred alleged gang members sit in ordered rows, awaiting their fate as court proceedings unfold on a large screen. These mass trials come as part of President Nayib Bukele's aggressive crackdown on gang violence.

The trial involves 486 suspects in the largest legal action since Bukele's expanded powers in April 2022 allowed thousands to be detained, mostly suspected MS-13 and Barrio 18 affiliates. Aided by emergency powers, Bukele's policies reflect his hardline stance on crime but also stir controversy regarding civil rights.

Prisoners, kept under tight security at facilities like the new CECOT, are charged chiefly with gang membership, a move criticized for stifling defendants' rights to proper legal defense. Meanwhile, supporters argue the measures are essential, having dramatically reduced El Salvador's homicide rate.

(With inputs from agencies.)