Relatives of jailed Salvadorans say 'mass trials' unconstitutional

An inmate is attended by health personnel, during a tour in the "Terrorism Confinement Center" (CECOT) complex, which according to El Salvador's President, Nayib Bukele, is designed to hold 40,000 inmates, in Tecoluca, El Salvador October 12, 2023. REUTERS/Jose Cabezas

SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - Dozens of relatives of prisoners jailed in El Salvador during a state of emergency called on Thursday on the Supreme Court to rule unconstitutional upcoming "mass trials" of suspected gang members.

El Salvador's Congress, controlled by President Nayib Bukele's ruling party, approved special emergency provisions in July that allow people with established links to various gang structures to be tried in a group.