Release of Statistics on Imprisoned Journalists Worldwide in 2023; Iran and Israel Rank Sixth with 17 Each

The Committee to Protect Journalists announced on Thursday that by the end of 2023, approximately 320 journalists worldwide had been imprisoned for work-related reasons. More than one-third of the journalists counted by the Committee to Protect Journalists on December 1, 2023, were imprisoned in China, Myanmar, and Belarus. China tops the list with 44 imprisoned journalists, followed by Myanmar with 43, Belarus with 18, Russia with 22, and Vietnam with 19 imprisoned journalists in the second to fifth ranks. Iran and Israel each rank sixth with 17 imprisoned journalists. The 17 journalists held in Israel at the time of the count were Palestinians arrested in the West Bank since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7. According to this international organization, the overall figures have decreased compared to 2022, when 367 journalists were imprisoned, primarily due to the release of many journalists in Iran. In 2022, or 1401 in the Persian calendar, dozens of journalists were arrested in Iran during the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests, and many were later released on bail. According to Reporters Without Borders, the Islamic Republic arrested at least 79 journalists during the nationwide protests in 1401, including 31 female journalists. The report from this international organization indicates that the majority of imprisoned journalists, at 32%, were active in the political field, followed by human rights journalists at 23%. The 2023 statistics, with at least 320 imprisoned journalists, represent the second-highest number of journalists imprisoned since the Committee to Protect Journalists began its annual census in 1992. Judy Ginsberg, the executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, stated, 'Our research shows that authoritarianism has taken such root globally that governments dare to suppress critical reporting and evade public accountability.' Reporters Without Borders: The number of journalists killed while working in 2023 decreased despite the Gaza war. Two journalists and an environmental activist were arrested in Rasht. The International Federation of Journalists condemned the sentencing of Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi. About 200 journalists called for the release of Elaheh Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi. Anniversary of Mahsa: Report from the International Federation of Journalists on a year of repression of journalists and media in Iran. Anniversary of Mahsa: Reporters Without Borders: During the 'widespread repression' of protests, 79 Iranian journalists were arrested.