A year after the detention of Fidel Antonio Zavala Pérez, spokesperson for the Unidad de Defensa de Derechos Humanos y Comunitarios (UNIDEHC), Amnesty International has expressed serious concern over his prolonged pre-trial detention and the broader misuse of criminal law to target human rights defenders and community leaders in El Salvador. Ana Piquer, Americas director at Amnesty International, highlighted that such actions transform justice into a tool of intimidation, undermining the rule of law and deterring individuals from reporting abuses.
Zavala was detained on 25 February 2025 during a raid on UNIDEHC headquarters, alongside over 20 community leaders defending land in the La Floresta community. Arrest warrants were also issued against lawyers Ivania Cruz and Rudy Joya, who serve as UNIDEHC spokespersons. Following his detention, multiple legal proceedings were initiated against Zavala, including the reopening of previously closed cases. Throughout 2025, he faced at least four separate proceedings, three of which resulted in acquittals or case closures. He remains in custody on charges related to criminal association and illegal land sales linked to La Floresta.
Amnesty International has raised concerns about the extended pre-trial detention, noting that such measures should be exceptional, necessary, and proportional. The combination of prolonged detention and multiple legal actions casts doubt on the respect for Zavala’s right to a fair trial, presumption of innocence, and timely judicial process, all of which are protected under international law to which El Salvador is a party.
Prior to his detention, Zavala had reported alleged acts of torture and other serious human rights violations within Salvadoran prisons, further raising concerns about his safety and well-being. Amnesty International also emphasized that more than 20 community leaders were detained during the La Floresta operation, and that the use of INTERPOL-issued arrest warrants against lawyers involved reflects a coordinated effort to restrict protections for those defending human rights.
Amnesty International calls on the Salvadoran authorities to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Zavala and all individuals detained in connection with La Floresta, to reassess the necessity of pre-trial detention, and to ensure due process in line with international standards. The organization also urges the state to stop using judicial mechanisms to criminalize the legitimate work of human rights defenders.
