China imprisoned more journalists in 2019 than even Turkey
The Committee to Protect Journalists’ annual report says covering politics, human rights and corruption are most likely to land people in jail
11 December 2019 - 11:59
byGerry Doyle and Gabriel Crossley
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A police officer checks the ID card of a man in Kashgar, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, China. Picture: REUTERS/THOMAS PETER
Beijing — China imprisoned at least 48 journalists in 2019, more than any other country, displacing Turkey as the most oppressive place for the profession, a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)report said on Wednesday.
At least 250 journalists were imprisoned worldwide in 2019, according to the report, which the committee compiles annually. The total in 2018 was 255, said the report by the New York-based CPJ.
China’s total rose by one since last year. The report noted that “the number has steadily increased since President Xi Jinping consolidated political control of the country.”
“A crackdown in Xinjiang province — where a million members of Muslim ethnic groups have been sent to internment camps — has led to the arrests of dozens of journalists, including some apparently jailed for journalistic activity years earlier,” the report said.
Asked about the report by at a regular briefing in Beijing on Wednesday, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said US-based institutions have no credibility. When asked about the number of journalists jailed in China, Hua said she could not confirm the figure, adding that China was a country where the rule of law prevailed and no-one was above the law.
“You should feel lucky that you work in Beijing and not in Washington,” she told reporters.
Turkey imprisoned 47 journalists in 2019, down from 68 in 2018. Saudi Arabia and Egypt, both imprisoned 26; Eritrea 16; Vietnam, 12; and Iran with 11 were the next most oppressive countries for journalists, the report said.
It noted that “authoritarianism, instability, and protests” in 2019 had led to an increase in the number of journalists imprisoned in the Middle East.
About 8% of those imprisoned globally are women, down from 13% in 2018, the report said, adding that politics, human rights and corruption are the subjects most likely to land journalists in jail.
The report is a snapshot of the journalists imprisoned on December 1 each year, the committee said. It does not include those who have been released earlier or journalists taken by non-state entities such as militant groups.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
China imprisoned more journalists in 2019 than even Turkey
The Committee to Protect Journalists’ annual report says covering politics, human rights and corruption are most likely to land people in jail
Beijing — China imprisoned at least 48 journalists in 2019, more than any other country, displacing Turkey as the most oppressive place for the profession, a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)report said on Wednesday.
At least 250 journalists were imprisoned worldwide in 2019, according to the report, which the committee compiles annually. The total in 2018 was 255, said the report by the New York-based CPJ.
China’s total rose by one since last year. The report noted that “the number has steadily increased since President Xi Jinping consolidated political control of the country.”
“A crackdown in Xinjiang province — where a million members of Muslim ethnic groups have been sent to internment camps — has led to the arrests of dozens of journalists, including some apparently jailed for journalistic activity years earlier,” the report said.
Asked about the report by at a regular briefing in Beijing on Wednesday, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said US-based institutions have no credibility. When asked about the number of journalists jailed in China, Hua said she could not confirm the figure, adding that China was a country where the rule of law prevailed and no-one was above the law.
“You should feel lucky that you work in Beijing and not in Washington,” she told reporters.
Turkey imprisoned 47 journalists in 2019, down from 68 in 2018. Saudi Arabia and Egypt, both imprisoned 26; Eritrea 16; Vietnam, 12; and Iran with 11 were the next most oppressive countries for journalists, the report said.
It noted that “authoritarianism, instability, and protests” in 2019 had led to an increase in the number of journalists imprisoned in the Middle East.
About 8% of those imprisoned globally are women, down from 13% in 2018, the report said, adding that politics, human rights and corruption are the subjects most likely to land journalists in jail.
The report is a snapshot of the journalists imprisoned on December 1 each year, the committee said. It does not include those who have been released earlier or journalists taken by non-state entities such as militant groups.
Reuters
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