Existing comment:
Jailed Journalists:
In many countries, journalists are failed for doing their jobs. Oppressive regimes arrest reporters to silence criticism or retaliate for their work. Often, the cause of their imprisonment is never revealed. Nearly 200 journalists around the world were behind bars in 2015, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, including record numbers in China and Egypt.
Cracking Down on Free Speech:
Governments in China, Egypt and Iran use harsh prison sentences to silence dissent. Among those currently jailed in those countries are reporters, photographers, broadcasters, bloggers and cartoonists. Their "crimes": photographing protests, questioning the government and speaking out about human rights.
The Five Worst Countries for Jailing Journalists:
* China: 49 journalists in jail
* Egypt: 23
* Iran: 19
* Eritrea: 17
* Turkey: 14
China remained the world's jailer of journalists in 2015, as the government continued its crackdown on the press and social media. In Egypt, the government uses the pretext of national security to clamp down on dissent. Iran holds many journalists on anti-state charges. In Eritrea, reporters are imprisoned without trial. In the past year, Turkey has doubled the number of journalists in jail. |