By Tariq Zaidi
There are few places on earth as dangerous as El Salvador, a country with a population of just 6.5 million people – yet 10% are involved with gangs
El Salvador is no stranger to violence. It endured a brutal civil war in the 1980s, which lasted for more than a decade. In many ways this history has underpinned the evolution of a terrifying gang culture where extortion and murder have become the norm. In the aftermath of the civil war, US immigration policies hardened. The net result was Salvadorian migrants convicted of crimes were deported back to El Salvador, renewing the cycle of gang culture and undermining the foundations of a fragile and struggling state.
Source: El Salvador: a country ruled by gangs – a photo essay
Category: El Salvador, Gangs, Americas, World news, Photography
