On February 25, 2025, Fidel Zavala, spokesperson for the Unidad De Defensa De Derechos Humanos Y Comunitarios (UNIDEHC), was arbitrarily detained by Salvadoran authorities in a raid that included the search of UNIDEHC’s headquarters, the home of lawyer Ivania Cruz—Director of the organization—and the arrest of more than 20 community leaders from La Floresta. Zavala’s detention is particularly concerning, as he has been both a witness to and a denouncer of torture in penitentiary centers. We urge the authorities to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Fidel Zavala and all detainees and to ensure they receive a fair trial with full due process guarantees.
