Mass arrests and overcrowded prisons in El Salvador spark fear of coronavirus crisis
Governments around the world, from Brazil to the United States, are releasing some prisoners in an effort to reduce COVID-19 outbreaks in overcrowded prisons and jails. But not El Salvador.
Over the past month, thousands have been arrested and jailed for allegedly violating quarantine orders in this small Central American country.
El Salvador was one of the first countries in the Americas to declare a state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic, in mid-March. President Nayib Bukele announced a mandatory national quarantine with few exceptions.
At first, his decisive action had broad support. But Bukele’s use of police and soldiers to enforce coronavirus restrictions has led to criticism that the president is abusing his emergency powers to curtail civil liberties and undermine democracy.
Read more: https://theconversation.com/mass-arrests-and-overcrowded-prisons-in-el-salvador-spark-fear-of-coronavirus-crisis-137673
