THE mother of a human rights lawyer arrested in El Salvador has said that she was able to see and speak with her daughter more than 24 hours after she was detained in what critics say was government retaliation for her work.

Eleonora Alfaro spoke on Tuesday after visiting Ruth Eleonora Lopez, the head of the anti-corruption team at non-governmental organisation Cristosal.

Police arrested Ms Lopez on Sunday night, alleging that she had participated in the embezzlement of funds when she held a government position earlier in her career under former Supreme Electoral Tribunal president Eugenio Chicas.

Cristosal has been one of the most outspoken critics of some of President Nayib Bukele’s policies, especially the ongoing three-year state of emergency.

“My daughter is completely innocent. She has nothing to do with it,” Ms Alfaro said. “She knows where this comes from and I do too.”

She demanded that Mr Bukele order her daughter’s release.

“He has ordered my daughter’s arrest, because she has at times expressed criticism in favour of the people in and in favour of all Salvadoran society,” Ms Alfaro said. 

The president’s office has not commented on the arrest.

The alleged wrongdoing by Ms Lopez dates to her time as an adviser to Mr Chicas during the 2014-19 administration of president Salvador Sanchez Ceren.