The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Opinion There’s more to Bukele’s mass imprisonments

March 3, 2023 at 2:36 p.m. EST
Inmates arrive at a new prison in Tecoluca, El Salvador, on Feb. 24. (AFP/Getty Images)

Regarding León Krauze’s Feb. 28 Tuesday Opinion column “The scale of El Salvador’s new prison is difficult to comprehend”:

Salvadorans are understandably relieved to have violent gang members off the streets. But there is a dark side to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele’s mass imprisonments. The “state of emergency” is also being used to target his political opponents and solidify his dictatorship.