El Salvador’s government arrested critic lawyer Enrique Anaya on money laundering charges amid concerns of silencing dissent under Bukele’s authoritarian rule.

A constitutional lawyer and outspoken critic of El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has been arrested on charges of "money laundering," according to the prosecutor's office.

Enrique Anaya, the lawyer in question, has openly called Bukele a "dictator." He was taken into custody at his residence in the city of Santa Tecla on Saturday.

Human rights organizations have condemned the arrest, stating that it appears to be an effort to silence those who challenge the government.

Bukele’s tough stance on El Salvador’s powerful gangs has earned him significant popularity among voters. However, this approach has also raised concerns among activists about arbitrary arrests and the erosion of civil liberties.

Images showing Anaya handcuffed and accompanied by police officers were shared on social media by the office of El Salvador's attorney general. Authorities have indicated that Anaya will be formally charged in court with "money and asset laundering."

This arrest follows the earlier detention this year of another lawyer, Ruth Lopez, who heads an anti-corruption unit at the human rights NGO Cristosal. Lopez faces accusations of embezzling state funds during her tenure at an electoral court about ten years ago.

Although El Salvador's constitution officially prohibits consecutive presidential terms, a Supreme Court, seen as aligned with Bukele, unanimously authorized him to run again. Bukele was subsequently reelected in February 2024, securing 85% of the vote.

Bukele has accused his critics of being leftist political activists. Last week, he issued a warning stating that "corrupt opposition members" are not untouchable.

In a Sunday statement, Bukele said, "I don't care if they call me a dictator. I'd rather be called a dictator than see Salvadorans killed in the streets."

In response, Anaya said during a television interview on Tuesday that Bukele had "removed the mask," adding, "he is what he is."

Anaya further stated, "Here, whoever speaks, whoever criticizes, whoever does not kneel before the idol, gets imprisoned. Of course, I am afraid."

In his last post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, Anaya remarked that "the Bukelean dictatorship is increasingly questioned and confronted internationally," referring to criticisms from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) concerning the arrests of Lopez and other activists.