Media under attack-historic record high numbers of journalists imprisoned globally in 2021
488 media professionals are languishing in prisons around the world
The media is
under attack. The rising authoritarianism in the world is targeting the
independent media and journalists. Historically high numbers of journalists have
been imprisoned in 2021. The number of journalists detained this year has risen
by 20%. The numbers have increased mainly due to crackdown on media in Myanmar,
Belarus and Hong Kong.
The two
separate reports released by global media watchdogs Committee to Protect
Journalist (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in December 2021 clearly
pointed out that attacks on media freedom and journalists have been increased
due to the rise of right wing populist leaders and authoritarianism.
In its
annual report released on December 09 this year, Committee to Protect
Journalists (CPJ) has said that 293 journalists were detained alone in 2021. China
and Myanmar has detained the highest number of journalists during 2021.
In its annual
report, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) listed 50 journalists imprisoned
in China, 26 in Burma, 25 in Egypt, 23 in Vietnam and 19 in Belarus in 2021.
Adding those
jailed in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, Russia, Ethiopia and Eritrea, the CPJ
said a total of 293 journalists were in prison worldwide as of December 1 — up
from 280 the year before.
It's
distressing to see many countries on the list year after year, but it is
especially horrifying that Myanmar and Ethiopia have so brutally slammed the
door on press freedom.”
India was
also high on the list, with four journalists killed this year.
There are
currently 488 media professionals imprisoned around the world, the highest
number since Reporters Without Borders (RSF) began counting more than 25 years
ago, the media watch dog has revealed in its recent report.
RSF said it
had also never seen so many female journalists detained, with the overall
number of 60 representing a third more than 2020. China has imprisoned 127, Myanmar
53, followed by Vietnam (43), Belarus (32) and Saudi Arabia (31).
“The number
of journalists detained in connection with their work has never been this high
since RSF began publishing its annual round-up in 1995 said the media watchdog
in a statement.”
However, 46
journalists were killed during 2021 which is lowest number since RSF started
compiling annual reports. This number
went down mainly due to the relative stabilisation of conflicts in the Middle
East.
The falling
number of deaths since a peak in 2016 reflects changing dynamics in Syria, Iraq
and Yemen, where a reduction in conflict means fewer journalists have been
drawn to the region. Most of the 46 killings were assassinations: “65pc were
deliberately targeted and eliminated,” the report said.
Set up by a
coalition of press freedom organisations, the hearings lasting six months will
focus on the unsolved cases of three journalists murdered in Mexico, Sri Lanka
and Syria.
While it has
no legal powers to convict anyone, the tribunal aims to raise awareness,
pressure governments and gather evidence through what it calls its form of
“grassroots justice”. The tribunal was organised by Free Press Unlimited (FPU),
the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and Reporters Without Borders.
RSF also
counted 65 journalists and colleagues held as hostages around the world. All
are in the Middle East — Syria (44), Iraq (11) and Yemen (9) — apart from
French journalist Olivier Dubois, held in Mali since April.
Rukhsana Manzoor Deputy Editor
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