EL SALVADOR: arbitrary detention of Alejandro Henriquez, human rights and environmental lawyer
21 May, 2025
Lawyer, human rights defender and member of Foro del Agua Alejandro Henríquez was arrested on 13 May 2025 in San Salvador for “disturbing public order” and “resistance”. He was arrested in the context of his work as legal advisor to the El Bosque cooperative. This community of 300 families, located in Santa Tecla (La Libertad), is threatened with eviction by decision of the Labour Court, with a deadline set for 22 May 2025.
On 12 May, residents of the cooperative organised a peaceful demonstration near the Las Piletas housing estate, where President Nayib Bukele lives, asking him to intervene to prevent the eviction.
During the demonstration, the National Civil Police (PNC) and the Public Order Unit (UMO), together with elements of the military police, cracked down on the demonstrators, arresting several community leaders, including the president of the cooperative José Ángel Pérez, and an evangelical pastor.
Lawyer Alejandro Henríquez, who accompanied the community in its demonstration, was arrested the next day at the offices of Foro del Agua [1] , an environmental organisation to which he belongs. The arrest was carried out arbitrarily and without a court order, in a context of increasing repression and criminalisation of those who defend fundamental rights in the country, in what appears to be an attempt to silence them [2].
Since his arrest, Alejandro Henríquez has been held at the “El Penalito” temporary detention centre in Lourdes and has only had access to his lawyer and family once. However, his relatives have been warned that they will not be able to see him from now on, following orders from his superiors.
The Observatory strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of lawyer Alejandro Henríquez.
The Observatory urges the Salvadoran authorities to immediately and unconditionally release lawyer Alejandro Henríquez.
The Observatory recalls that lawyers are fundamental to the protection of rights and freedoms, and that their intimidation or detention constitutes a flagrant violation of the principles of independence of the profession, as set out in international standards, in particular the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.
“Governments shall ensure that lawyers (a) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; ((…). (Principle 16)
“Lawyers like other citizens are entitled to freedom of expression, belief, association and assembly. In particular, they shall have the right to take part in public discussion of matters concerning the law, the administration of justice and the promotion and protection of human rights and to join or form local, national or international organizations and attend their meetings, without suffering professional restrictions by reason of their lawful action or their membership in a lawful organization. In exercising these rights, lawyers shall always conduct themselves in accordance with the law and the recognized standards and ethics of the legal profession.” (Principle 23)
[1] “El Foro del Agua de El Salvador” was created on 17 October 2006, and is made up of around fifty entities. It is a permanent platform of organisations and institutions that coordinate to influence the responsible, efficient, equitable and participatory management of water. To find out more :https://forodelagua.org.sv/
[2] According to a report by the Mesa por el Derecho a Defender Derechos, attacks on human rights defenders increased by 135% in 2024 compared to 2023, totalling 533 cases. Report available at the following address : https://satsv.org/storage/informes/archivos/sz3fFQu0aSP5HGUtNmo3MQguZvQ1txgg2lKpTW0y.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawKYQthleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE5UktzaXNnUnIyR251U2RxAR4UydxFHzcmQ0BVsnmdhdMb7RJ9U7HVNvwgCRkkoRXUIwdDUS_hw5Fb1qsyHA_aem_pXPwbzxYh3A8KpQMiPZMxA
