The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ): "Imprisonments jump worldwide, and Iran is worst"

08.12.2011 CPJ's worldwide census of imprisoned journalists finds 179 reporters, editors, and photojournalists behind bars, an increase of more than 20 percent over last year and the highest tally since 1996. Iran is the world's worst jailer of the press, with 42 behind bars.

Foto: CPJ

The number of journalists imprisoned worldwide shot up more than 20 percent to its highest level since the mid-1990s, an increase driven largely by widespread jailings across the Middle East and North Africa, the Committee to Protect Journalists has found.

In its annual census of imprisoned journalists, CPJ identified 179 writers, editors, and photojournalists behind bars on December 1, an increase of 34 over its 2010 tally.

Iran was the world's worst jailer, with 42 journalists behind bars, as authorities kept up a campaign of anti-press intimidation that began after the country's disputed presidential election more than two years ago. Eritrea, China, Burma, Vietnam, Syria, and Turkey also ranked among the world's worst. (Read detailed accounts of each imprisoned journalist.)

MORE IN THIS REPORT