Human rights defender and Unidad de Defensa de Derechos Humanos y Comunitarios (UNIDEHC) spokesperson Fidel Zavala has been held in pre-trial detention since 25 February 2025 in connection with his support for the La Floresta community. On 11 September 2026, the Fifth Court against Organized Crime extended the investigation phase until 25 August 2027. We call on the Salvadoran authorities to ensure an immediate, individualized review of his pre-trial detention, consider alternatives to detention, guarantee his safety and ensure that criminal proceedings are not used to punish legitimate human rights work.
