By Kevin McCauley
The number of jailed journalists increased 23 percent to 179 on Dec. 1, reaching a 15-year high mark as repressive regimes cracked down on the free flow of information, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Half of those imprisoned were online journalists. The all-time high of imprisoned journalists was 185 in 1996.
Iran repeated as the biggest gulag for writers, editors, and photographers, putting 42 of them behind bars. The Islamic state was following by Eritrea (28), China (27), Burma (12) and Vietnam (9).
CPJ reports the Iran maintains a “revolving prison door with furloughs and new arrests” of journalists, who are subjected to inhumane treatment. China cracks down on reporters involved with Tibetan and Uighur minority groups.
Independent journalists, noted Joel Simon, executive director of CPJ, “are bearing the brunt of this unprecedented rise in the incarceration of journalists” since they often lack institutional support to legally defend themselves.
CPJ reports that the freedom to report improved in South America. No journalist was jailed in the Americas on Dec. 1, though reporters were held for short periods during the past year. Eight reporters were jailed in Central Asia, a record low for the past six years.
There’s potential for progress in No. 4 jailer Burma, which just received a visit from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. CPJ wants Burma to junk its Electronics Act, which jails people for sending “unsanctioned information” over the Internet.
“Burma's transition to democracy will not be legitimate without legal reform to ensure press freedom,” said Simon in a statement. “Draconian laws restricting reporting must be abolished, and imprisoned journalists immediately released.”
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