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world14h ago
Salvadoran news outlet El Faro says its assets frozen in retaliation for reporting on Bukele
- El Faro says its assets, including a bank account and property, were frozen in what it calls political persecution tied to its reporting on Bukele.
- El Faro says the asset freezes are aimed at silencing investigative reporting about corruption and gang negotiations.
- Bukele’s government has faced human rights criticism amid a four-year state of exception and crackdowns on dissent.
- El Faro learned of the freezes through the bank and property registry, not formal government notification.
- El Faro journalists have faced spyware attacks, with Pegasus detected on many iPhones in 2022.
- The asset freezes follow El Faro's investigative work, including a documentary with PBS Frontline on gang negotiations.
- Bukele's office did not respond to requests for comment, but he has labeled El Faro's reporting as fake news in the past.
- El Salvador authorities have conducted audits of El Faro since 2020 over tax allegations the outlet denies.
- The measures are part of a regional pattern cited by the outlet, including moves in Nicaragua against critics.
- El Faro is represented by the Costa Rican Center for Justice and International Law in its Inter-American rights case.
- The asset freeze occurred as El Faro is already in exile, with staff living outside El Salvador and headquarters moved to Costa Rica.
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