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El Salvador rights group flees Bukele's deepening crackdown

EL SALVADOR, JUL 17 – Cristosal halted operations after arrests and restrictive laws targeted NGOs and critics, forcing over 20 staff to relocate amid a crackdown that saw 85,000 arrests, rights groups say.

  • On Thursday, Cristosal announced it would leave El Salvador, relocating 20 employees to Guatemala and Honduras, citing government harassment and legal threats.
  • Shortly after Chief Legal Officer Ruth López’s detention, authorities enacted a 30% tax on foreign NGO funding, triggering legal and arrest concerns.
  • The Association of Journalists of El Salvador reported at least 40 journalists have departed from the country, as more than 100 people fled in recent months, marking the largest political exodus since the civil war.
  • Following Cristosal’s departure, critics warned of weakened oversight in El Salvador, as Noah Bullock said the move will impede legal support for detainees.
  • Noah Bullock said Cristosal’s targeting reached a tipping point in recent months and as Bukele has grown empowered by his alliance with Trump, risks to civil society deepen.
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Lean Left

Founded 25 years ago, Cristosal ensures that it will continue to operate from its offices in Guatemala and Honduras to protect the security of its team.

·Paris, France
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Lean Left

The organization attributes its departure to the "persecution" of the Bukele government and will continue to operate from its headquarters in Guatemala and Honduras.

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By Merlin Delcid and Michael Rios, CNN Cristosal, a prominent human rights group critical of El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, has suspended its operations in the country, citing government harassment, repression, and persecution of human rights defenders. Cristosal's executive director, Noah Bullock, announced that the organization will continue to operate from Guatemala and Honduras, as actions by the Salvadoran government have hindered it…

Center

By Merlin Delcid and Michael Rios, CNN Cristosal, a prominent human rights group critical of El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, has suspended its operations in the country, citing government harassment, repression, and persecution of human rights defenders. Cristosal's executive director, Noah Bullock, announced that the organization will continue to operate from Guatemala and Honduras, as actions by the Salvadoran government have hindered it…

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Lean Left

Human rights group leaves El Salvador amid crackdown on dissent

A prominent human rights group critical of El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has suspended operations in the country, citing the government’s harassment, repression and persecution of human rights defenders.

·Atlanta, United States
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Reuters broke the news in United Kingdom on Thursday, July 17, 2025.
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