El Salvador’s government has shown the world a peek inside its new mega-prison, the Centre for the Confinement of Terrorism (CECOT). This prison is in Tecoluca and is meant to hold the most dangerous gang members from groups like MS-13 and Barrio 18, forever.

CECOT is massive, with room for about 40,000 inmates which is like filling two Madison Square Gardens. Photos released by the government show tattooed prisoners being led into small, crowded cells by guards wearing masks. The harsh artificial lighting inside the cells creates a tense and scary atmosphere.

El Salvador's Struggle: Safety vs. Human Rights

President Nayib Bukele’s government has taken a very tough stance against gangs. In just 20 months, they have arrested over 70,000 people to fight crime. While some support this approach for making the streets safer, many are worried about human rights and prison conditions.

El Salvador's
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One striking photo shows cellmates packed tightly into a bus, their heads shaved and hands tied behind their backs. Other shows prisoners squatting in long lines with their heads down, watched closely by armed guards. These images reveal the harsh and dehumanizing conditions in CECOT, where overcrowding and constant surveillance are the norm.

"Prisoners face constant fear of being tortured or killed while held in small, artificially lit cells," a report says. The inmates have very strict rules, they eat with their hands to prevent utensils from being used as weapons, and they can only exercise with their body weight because weights could be dangerous.

Recently, more than 2,000 gang members were moved to CECOT from other prisons. This move is part of President Bukele’s broader effort to fight gangs. Despite the harsh conditions and international criticism, the government is determined to keep the streets free of gang violence.

These images have sparked a debate about whether such extreme measures are necessary or moral. They show the harsh reality of life in El Salvador’s most secure prison, raising questions about the balance between safety and human rights. As the world watches, El Salvador struggles with these difficult issues.

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