Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has never counted as many imprisoned journalists worldwide as it did this year, with the main culprits being the governments in Belarus, Myanmar and China.
As of December 1, a total of 488 media professionals were in prison just for doing their job, according to RSF. This is an increase of 20 per cent compared to the previous year, as the reporters‘ organization writes in its annual press freedom report, to be published on Thursday.
“This exceptional surge in arbitrary detention is mostly attributable to three countries whose governments are indifferent to their citizens’ yearning for democracy,” the study’s authors wrote. In Myanmar, where the military reclaimed power in a coup on February 1, 2021, 53 journalists are currently in prison.
A year ago, there were only two. In Belarus, where President Alexander Lukashenko won his controversial re-election in August 2020, 32 journalists are now behind bars, up from seven a year ago. China’s increasing control over Hong Kong has also led to a worsening of the situation: There, the National Security Law has been used as a pretext for the detention of at least 10 journalists at present. Previously, Hong Kong’s special status had made it a regional model for respecting press freedom.
Source: MIA
