El Salvador approves life sentences for murder, rape, terror

Warning: This article contains mentions of rape.

Salvadoran lawmakers passed a constitutional reform proposed by iron-fisted President Nayib Bukele to allow sentences of life imprisonment for "murderers, rapists, and terrorists."

On Tuesday, March 17, El Salvador's legislature, dominated by Bukele's ruling party, voted nearly unanimously to increase the maximum sentence for certain crimes, which is currently 60 years.

"Our all-out war against terrorists does not stop," said Security Minister Gustavo Villatoro, who brought the matter before the voting body.

"That is why we are requesting life imprisonment for this type of criminal," he added, later adding it included "murderers and rapists."

A close ally of US President Donald Trump, Bukele calls himself the "world's coolest dictator" and rules under a 2022 state of emergency during which crime has been slashed as authorities have arrested 91,000 people, acting without warrants and accusing detainees of gang affiliation.

The crackdown has reduced homicide rates to historic lows but has generated criticism of human rights violations.

Last week, the NGO Cristosal released a report that Bukele's government is holding dozens of political prisoners captive.

Bukele, for his part, has waved off criticism of his security agenda.

"We will see who supports this reform and who dares to defend the idea that the Constitution should continue prohibiting murderers and rapists from remaining in prison," Bukele wrote in a post on X.