03/06/2024 El Salvador (International Christian Concern) – El Salvador hosted presidential and congressional elections in early February, leading to the re-election of highly popular Nayib Bukele of the New Ideas party. Despite his current popularity as the self-proclaimed “Coolest Dictator,” Bukele initially faced controversy the first time he ran for president in 2019. Much of this controversy has stemmed from Burkele’s multi-ethnic, multi-religious background.
El Salvador’s population is 43.3% Roman Catholic, 33.9% evangelical Christian, and 18.6% nonaffiliated, according to the United States International Religious Freedom Report of 2022. As a result, the country’s population expressed concern when learning Burkele comes from a family with multiple faiths.
Burkele’s father was a practicing Muslim and served as the Imam of the Muslim Community in San Salvador. His mother’s family comes from Bethlehem, and his wife’s family has a traditionally Jewish heritage. Regardless of his familial connections, Burkele has refused to disclose his personal religious beliefs publicly, often strategically utilizing his background to gain favor with both Christians and Muslims.
Instead of expressing religious beliefs, Burkele has focused on advancing his political ideologies, which he termed “Nuevas Ideas” or “New Ideas.” One of the most impactful initiatives included in the New Ideas approach was the effort to fight against the widespread gang corruption in El Salvador. Through a congressionally approved state of emergency, which allows the government to arrest suspected gang members without trial or charges. Since the beginning of this campaign, over 75,000 Salvadorians have been arrested.
While violence has significantly deteriorated, many express concerns regarding the continued alterations to the constitution enacted by Burkele, including changing the terms of re-election to run for president again.
Reports have noted that Burkele has used religious motivation to garner support for the fight against gang corruption. In an X (formerly Twitter) post, Burkele shared images of a satanic alter in the home of an alleged gang member, writing, “The war against gangs is a war between good and evil.” This language evoked strong emotions from the highly religious population of El Salvador, leading many to claim his actions were that of divine justice.
The current constitution provides for the free exercise of religion, stating “all persons are equal before the law” and prohibits discrimination based on religion. While the Burkele administration has not directly attacked conditions for Christians and religious minorities, the continued stretching of the constitution provides cause for concern.
We pray that the success of President Burkele will evolve into the success of Christians. We pray against corruption, pride, and idolization and encourage the Christians of El Salvador to remain strong in their convictions. We pray against violence and devastation caused by gangs and encourage stable participation in democratic governance.
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