Nearly 500 alleged gang leaders are on a collective, mass trial in El Salvador, a practice criticized by human rights groups. The Salvadoran government says the 486 defendants standing trial are accused of ordering over 47,000 crimes by the MS-13 gang between 2012 and 2022. Charges against them include homicide, femicide, extortion, arms trafficking and disappearances. The trial follows a 2023 reform of the country's penal code under an ongoing state of emergency, which suspends fundamental rights and extends detention without a hearing. Human rights organizations have criticized this measure and the four-year long state of emergency for violating due process and human rights.
