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May 16, 2026 – El Salvador –
Independent Salvadoran news outlet El Faro has accused authorities in El Salvador of retaliating against its journalists and freezing company assets following years of investigative reporting critical of President Nayib Bukele and his administration.
According to El Faro, financial authorities ordered the freezing of the organization’s assets as part of an investigation linked to alleged tax irregularities. The outlet strongly rejected the accusations and argued that the measures represent political retaliation aimed at weakening one of the country’s leading independent investigative media organizations.
El Faro has published numerous investigations into alleged government corruption, negotiations with gangs, abuses during the state of emergency, and democratic backsliding under Bukele’s administration. The outlet’s journalists have previously reported facing surveillance, intimidation, online harassment, and legal threats linked to their reporting activities. Press freedom groups have repeatedly cited El Faro as a key target of hostility toward independent media in El Salvador.
PEN International condemned the actions against El Faro and described the freezing of assets as part of a broader pattern of attacks against journalists and independent media in the country. The organization warned that financial and legal pressure against media outlets can threaten their ability to operate and undermine freedom of expression. PEN also called on Salvadoran authorities to end harassment targeting journalists and guarantee protections for independent reporting.
Media rights advocates noted that El Salvador has faced increasing criticism from international organizations over restrictions on civil liberties and growing pressure on journalists since the introduction of emergency security measures targeting gangs. Human rights groups argue that emergency powers and aggressive political rhetoric against the press have contributed to an increasingly hostile environment for independent reporting.
Several international watchdog organizations have previously documented allegations that Salvadoran journalists were targeted with Pegasus spyware and subjected to surveillance connected to investigations involving the government. Authorities have denied accusations of persecuting journalists and defended their actions as lawful responses to financial or security-related concerns.
Press freedom advocates argue that independent investigative journalism remains essential for accountability and transparency, particularly in environments where democratic institutions face growing pressure. Media organizations and rights groups continue calling on Salvadoran authorities to ensure journalists can operate freely without fear of retaliation, surveillance, financial intimidation, or politically motivated legal actions.
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