On September 24, 2025, an El Salvador court acquitted five antimining activists, known as the Santa Marta Five, of murder and kidnapping charges stemming from a 1989 civil war incident. The activists, arrested in January 2023, were initially acquitted but faced a retrial after prosecutors appealed. Human rights organizations labeled the prosecution as politically motivated, suggesting it was retaliation for the activists' opposition to mining projects and environmental degradation. The court found insufficient evidence linking the accused to the crime, which involved the kidnapping and murder of María Inés Alvarenga. Although acquitted of criminal charges, four of the men may still face civil liability. The case has drawn attention to the challenges faced by environmental activists in El Salvador, with calls for justice continuing despite the legal victory.