Ruth Eleonora López Marks 100 Days in Detention Amidst Controversy
Human rights lawyer Ruth Eleonora López commemorated her 100th day in detention on August 26, 2025, after being arrested by the National Civil Police (PNC) under charges of embezzlement and illicit enrichment, linked to her alleged collaboration with former Supreme Electoral Tribunal president Eugenio Chicas, reports 24brussels.
Human rights organizations have denounced her situation, stating, “Ruth López marks 100 days incommunicated, kidnapped, and resisting, 100 days of shame for the judicial system. Therefore, it is time to mobilize all resources to restore her freedom.” The call to action underscores the growing concerns surrounding the integrity of the judicial system and its treatment of dissenting voices.
López has been a prominent figure in advocating for Salvadorans’ fundamental rights and has been recognized with the 2025 International Human Rights Award by the American Bar Association. Her work has focused on exposing government corruption, including ghost payrolls and violations of fiscal transparency by political parties. Through her activism, López has also highlighted the impact of state repression, which has resulted in over 85,000 arbitrary detentions during a declared state of emergency.
Her husband, Louis Benavides, expressed gratitude to organizations such as Cristosal for their support during this challenging time. López has faced significant repercussions for her outspoken criticism of the government, including public statements about the abuses she has witnessed and her commitment to defending detainee rights.
Notably, she has represented Salvadoran human rights organizations before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. In 2024, she was named one of the BBC’s 100 Most Influential Women in the World, underscoring her global recognition in the fight for human rights and transparency.
Upon her initial court appearance on June 4, López characterized herself as a political prisoner, asserting that the charges against her are a direct result of her efforts to combat corruption in the current administration. While requesting a public trial, the case has been rendered confidential at the prosecutor’s request, raising further questions about the transparency and fairness of the legal proceedings against her.
