Ibrajim Bukele Reveals Existence of Extralegal Team Reviewing Arrests

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Ibrajim Bukele, one of President Nayib Bukele’s brothers and a close advisor, stated on X that there is an “independent team” within the government of El Salvador that reviews “one by one” the cases of those detained during the state of exception, as well as the reports of more than 500 in-custody deaths.

Ibrajim Bukele, who holds no official position, made the existence of this team public on April 2, during an exchange with a user who questioned him about the lack of transparency and allegations of crimes against humanity against many of the nearly 100,000 Salvadorans detained during the state of exception.

“I know you want to make a scene, Vernon. With hashtags and all,” he wrote to the user. “But this is a serious issue where many people have been affected. Not only by the arrests, but also by the gangs. No one is taking this lightly.”

“Cases are received and reviewed every day,” he added, without specifying when or how this team meets, what the procedure is for requesting a case review, what criteria are considered when deciding on someone’s release, or under which law these people operate.

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The Legislative Assembly approved the state of exception on March 27, 2022, and has extended it month after month, on 48 occasions.

The group’s existence was completely unknown before it was mentioned by the president’s brother. It is unknown when this team was formed or how long it has been operating.

El Faro confirmed that the X account @Ibrajim belongs to the president’s brother. It’s the only one among the Bukele brothers that isn’t verified by the platform.

Posts dating back to 2012 show Nayib Bukele interacting with this account, including reminiscing about childhood, together with another of his brothers, Karim Bukele.

What authority?

For now, the only details Ibrajim Bukele provided about this “independent” team are that it has the power to decide who is released.

He says it is composed of institutions controlled by President Nayib Bukele, including the Office of First Lady Gabriela de Bukele. He also hinted that he himself has influence over decisions.

“It works hand in hand with the Attorney General’s Office, Ministry of Justice, and correctional facilities. The First Lady’s Office is also part of the team. No one wants to have innocent people in prison,” he stated.

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Under Salvadoran law, neither the Attorney General’s Office, nor the Ministry of Security and Justice, nor prison officials, nor the First Lady’s Office, have the authority to decide on the release or detention of individuals.

The only officials with that authority are judges and magistrates, but the president’s brother did not mention them as being included.

When questioned on this point by journalist Edwin Segura of La Prensa Gráfica, he responded that judges and magistrates “preside over trials, not arrests and pretrial detainees.”

However, the arrest procedure and the criminal history of detainees are also among the factors that judges have the authority to weigh when deciding on release or detention.Ibrajim Bukele refused to reveal the identities of the people on this team. He rebuffed one online inquirer with the assertion that the mere question is aimed at “ruining their lives.”

“Why do you want to make public the team that reviews the cases?” Ibrajim Bukele snapped. “So they can be threatened and bribed? Then you’ll have to change the team and make it anonymous so people say we removed them because we want to cover something up?” (sic).

In March, a group of international experts told the U.N. Human Rights Council that the Bukele government has committed crimes against humanity during the state of exception.But to date, neither the president’s brothers nor his wife, the first lady, had been included among the officials implicated in these events.

Inner circle of brothers

Although Ibrajim Bukele counts himself among those with authority over this team —“we removed them”— he holds no official authority to make state decisions.

Although none of the Bukele brothers make any effort to hide the influence and direct power they wield, none hold an official appointment.

In practice, they have direct influence over a swath of diplomatic, business, and state affairs. They are the innermost circle in the president’s decision-making. El Faro has reported how Ibrajim Bukele has a say in business and economic matters.

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He confirmed to El Faro on June 1, 2019, the day Nayib Bukele was sworn-in as president, that he had conducted around 270 interviews with potential government officials and that he sent a shortlist of candidates to the president.

He has also been part of diplomatic delegations, such as in Turkey, where he appeared alongside the foreign minister under the title of “advisor to the president.”

Last week, social media users grilled Ibrajim Bukele about specific unjustified arrests. “Where can I bring you more cases from Santa Ana and La Unión, Usulután, for you to review? Including minors?” wrote user Roxana Cardona. “We’ll see if what you write is true. I await a response.”

Ibrajim Bukele immediately replied: “Thank you, Roxana. Message me privately, and we’ll gladly see what can be done.”

El Faro publicly asked Ibrajim Bukele on X: “Isn’t that the exclusive jurisdiction of the justice system? Is that team, whose existence you have revealed, made up of judges and magistrates? Do they meet in secret? What law establishes it and provides its legal framework? Why are you revealing this?”

He didn’t respond. El Faro also wrote to Attorney General Rodolfo Delgado via WhatsApp, and to press officers at the Attorney General’s Office and the Office of the President. None replied.

But on social media, several users questioned Ibrajim Bukele precisely on the point that he should have no say in release from prison. “Why not help those in need?” he responded. “If I can pass on the message, why not do so?”

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