Developing nations are jailing journalists in record numbers

„The world’s leading jailer of journalists is Turkey, which holds 49 journalists in jail. Many of these reporters are Kurdish and have been charged under anti-terror laws, which critics say do not distinguish between violent separatists and the act of covering their activities. »There is no difference between the bullets fired and the articles written in Ankara,« Turkish Interior Minister Naim Idris Sahin infamously stated last September.

Other leading jailers of journalists under anti-state charges include Iran, which held 40 journalists in jail in advance of its presidential elections, and China, which held 32 journalists in prison, including 19 Tibetans and Uyghurs imprisoned on anti-state charges after documenting ethnic tensions. Ethiopia, which expanded the reach of its anti-terrorism law in 2009, recently arrested more journalists, bringing its total to six. (…)

Reporting on ethnic conflict, corruption and human rights may now fall squarely in the crosshairs of these governments.”