Lawyer Ruth López marks 400 days in detention in El Salvador awaiting hearing

San Salvador (EFE).- Lawyer and human rights defender Ruth López, charged with illicit enrichment, marked on Monday 400 days of imprisonment in El Salvador. She continues to wait for the second hearing in her criminal proceedings, with no date yet set for the trial.

«400 days as a political prisoner of the Salvadoran regime for denouncing corruption,» posted the prominent organization Cristosal on X. López was a member of the organization, serving as the head of its anti-corruption department.

Initially detained since May 18, 2025, López attended her initial hearing less than a month later, where a Peace Court ordered her to remain in prison during the six-month investigation phase. Although this period ended on December 4, 2025, the Attorney General’s Office requested a six-month extension.

The court placed the criminal proceedings under full seal, meaning details remain confidential. The lawyer’s sister, Claudia López, told EFE that they are still waiting for the preliminary hearing, which was expected to be scheduled for June.

In a statement shared with EFE by Cristosal, the lawyer’s sister reiterated, «As a family, we still have no information about the process.» She noted that the defender has requested a public and fair trial, adding that «Ruth’s hearing should take place this month, but so far, no date has been set.»

«Because the case is under seal, we as a family have no knowledge of when it will take place,» she said.

Ruth López, a human rights advocate, was initially arrested on charges of embezzlement related to her work as an advisor to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) during the administration of former leftist President Salvador Sánchez Cerén (2014-2019). However, the Attorney General’s Office changed the charge to illicit enrichment when the formal indictment was filed.

Demands for health updates

The family has demanded that the Salvadoran state disclose the lawyer’s health status. According to her sister, Ruth underwent a medical procedure 38 days ago, and «we, as a family, only found out through the media because we were not informed beforehand.»

«We demand that they reveal Ruth’s current health condition and medical results. We have the right to know and to be informed so that we can take the necessary measures as a family,» she stated.

In September, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued precautionary measures for Ruth López, explaining in a statement that she faces a «risk of irreparable harm» to her rights to life, integrity, and health.

Among the requested measures, the Commission called for an end to her «prolonged isolation» to ensure «regular contact and access to her family, lawyers, and representatives.» However, her sister claims these requirements have not been met.

«The IACHR measures have not been fully implemented, and Ruth has spent the majority of her detention incommunicado,» her sister assured. EFE

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