Jailed journalists: Egypt and Syria worst in Arab world
Jailed journalists: Egypt and Syria worst in Arab world
Egyptian and Syrian government each hold a dozen journalists in jail, according to a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists - the highest totals in the Arab world.
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Three Al Jazeera journalists have been in prison in Egypt since December 2013 [AFP]
Egypt and Syria have been highlighted as the worst Arab states for jailing journalists in a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists.
The US-based advocacy group said in its annual report that 220 journalists were being held in prison around the world as of December 1.
The CPJ said the Egyptian and Syrian governments hold 12 journalists each, placing them sixth on the global scale but the worst in the Arab world.
The report noted that the military government of Egypt arrested dozens of local and international journalists after last year's coup against Mohamed Morsi. Most have since been freed.
Egypt continues to hold Al Jazeera English journalists Mohamed Fahmy, Baher Mohamed and Peter Greste, who are approaching one year in jail. They were arrested and tried in what several analysts have described as a "show trial" aimed at punishing Qatar, the sponsor of Al Jazeera, for its alleged support of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The report also does not include 20 journalists believed to be held in Syria by armed groups including the Islamic State group, which has killed several journalists it held hostage. The CPJ considers journalists held by such groups "missing" or "abducted".
Bahrain has six journalists in jail and Saudi Arabia four. Algeria, Kuwait and Morocco each have one journalist in jail.
The CPJ did not list any journalists held in Qatar, the UAE, Oman, Yemen, Lebanon, Jordan, Sudan and Mauritania.
Elsewhere in the region, Iran has 30 journalists behind bars, and Turkey has seven and Somalia has imprisoned two journalists.
China led the global list with 44 journalists, followed by Iran, Eritrea (23), Ethiopia (17) and Vietnam (16).
Sixty percent (132) of the annual total were imprisoned on anti-state charges, and 20 percent (45) are being held without charge.
The list does not include journalists jailed this year but later released. This year's total is the second highest recorded - the worst being 2012, with 232 journalists in jail.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
The US-based advocacy group said in its annual report that 220 journalists were being held in prison around the world as of December 1.
The CPJ said the Egyptian and Syrian governments hold 12 journalists each, placing them sixth on the global scale but the worst in the Arab world.
The report noted that the military government of Egypt arrested dozens of local and international journalists after last year's coup against Mohamed Morsi. Most have since been freed.
Egypt continues to hold Al Jazeera English journalists Mohamed Fahmy, Baher Mohamed and Peter Greste, who are approaching one year in jail. They were arrested and tried in what several analysts have described as a "show trial" aimed at punishing Qatar, the sponsor of Al Jazeera, for its alleged support of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The report also does not include 20 journalists believed to be held in Syria by armed groups including the Islamic State group, which has killed several journalists it held hostage. The CPJ considers journalists held by such groups "missing" or "abducted".
Bahrain has six journalists in jail and Saudi Arabia four. Algeria, Kuwait and Morocco each have one journalist in jail.
The CPJ did not list any journalists held in Qatar, the UAE, Oman, Yemen, Lebanon, Jordan, Sudan and Mauritania.
Elsewhere in the region, Iran has 30 journalists behind bars, and Turkey has seven and Somalia has imprisoned two journalists.
China led the global list with 44 journalists, followed by Iran, Eritrea (23), Ethiopia (17) and Vietnam (16).
Sixty percent (132) of the annual total were imprisoned on anti-state charges, and 20 percent (45) are being held without charge.
The list does not include journalists jailed this year but later released. This year's total is the second highest recorded - the worst being 2012, with 232 journalists in jail.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
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