CPJ: Turkey Remains World’s Worst Jailer for Second Consecutive Year

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

In its annual prison census, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) found 262 journalists behind bars around the world in relation to their work which is a new record after a historical high of 259 last year.

According to the report, the worst three jailers Turkey, China, and Egypt, are responsible for jailing 51% of the total. Turkey remained the world's worst jailer for the second consecutive year although there were some releases and there are 73 journalists behind bars this year, compared last year's figures (81).

According to bianet's Media Monitoring Reports, as of October, 122 journalists are behind bars in Turkey.

Some headlines from CPJ's report are as follows:

* Most common charge against journalists is anti-state.

"In Egypt and China, like Turkey, by far the most common type of charge against journalists is anti-state.

"Globally, 194 journalists, or 74 percent, are imprisoned on anti-state charges. Worldwide, CPJ has found that governments use broad and vaguely worded terror laws to intimidate critical journalists into silence. Legal provisions often conflate coverage of terrorist activity with condoning it.

* Crackdown on press increased following the coup attempt on July 15, 2016

"The crackdown on the Turkish press that began in early 2016 and accelerated after a failed coup attempt [...]. Authorities accused some journalists of terrorist activity based solely on their alleged use of a messaging app, Bylock, or bank accounts at allegedly Gülenist institutions".

* Trump's attitude reinforces framework of accusations also in other countries

"Far from isolating repressive countries for their authoritarian behavior, the United States, in particular, has cozied up to strongmen such as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"At the same time, President Donald Trump's nationalistic rhetoric, fixation on Islamic extremism, and insistence on labeling critical media "fake news" serves to reinforce the framework of accusations and legal charges that allow such leaders to preside over the jailing of journalists".

* Number of jailed journalists increased in China, decreased in Egypt

"Globally, nearly three-quarters of journalists are jailed on anti-state charges, many under broad and vague terror laws, while the number imprisoned on a charge of "false news," though modest, rose to a record 21.

"In China, the number of journalists behind bars rose to 41 from 38 a year earlier".

In Egypt, the number of journalists in jail fell to 20 from 25 last year. "Of the 20 journalists in Egyptian jails, 12 have not been convicted or sentenced for any crime".

Click to read the full report. (PT/DG)