El Salvador reforms constitution to allow for life sentences El Salvador's Congress approved a constitutional amendment on Tuesday, enabling life sentences for crimes such as murder, rape, and terrorism. This reform, part of President Nayib Bukele's ongoing efforts to combat the country's criminal gangs, allows for sentences that could theoretically last a lifetime, though the law previously limited actual time served to 60 years for sentences exceeding 100 years. The amendment passed with the backing of 59 lawmakers, with one voting against the measure. Bukele expressed his support for the reform on social media, stating that the amendment would clarify the legal stance on punishing serious crimes, emphasizing that the constitution should not shield perpetrators of violence from prison. The reform comes amid heightened scrutiny of the government's actions, including a recent report by a group of international lawyers who claimed there are "reasonable grounds" to believe crimes against humanity occurred during the country's controversial state of exception, which Bukele's administration imposed four years ago. The state of exception, a period of heightened security measures, allowed authorities to detain over 90,000 individuals. Of these, approximately 500 have died in custody. The amendment is part of a broader crackdown on organized crime, which has been a persistent challenge for El Salvador, where gangs have long been a source of instability and violence. The law's expansion of sentencing options reflects the government's determination to address public safety concerns, though it has also drawn criticism from human rights advocates.#el_salvador #nayib_bukele #congress_el_salvador #state_of_exception #international_lawyers_group
