More journalists have been jailed this year by
governments around the world than at any time in
nearly three decades, according to a media rights
watchdog.
The report by the Committee to Protect Journalists
(CPJ), a nonprofit group that works to defend press
freedoms, says a total of 259 journalists are jailed
around the world, compared with 199 at the same time
last year.
That is the highest number since the group began
keeping detailed records in 1990.
The numbers do not include journalists who have
disappeared or are held captive by non-state groups.
With 25 journalists incarcerated, Egypt is listed in
third place by the report - the CPJ's annual census of
imprisoned journalists.
This year marked the first time since 2008 that Iran
was not among the top five worst offenders.
That is because many of those sentenced in a post-
election crackdown in 2009 have served their
sentences and been released.
Turkey in focus
The CPJ says that at least 81 journalists were
imprisoned in Turkey as of December 1, all facing anti-
state charges.
A state of emergency is still in force in Turkey
following a July 15 coup attempt, with a
resulting government action against alleged coup
sympathisers landing thousands in jail and forcing
tens of thousands of people from their jobs.
"In Turkey, media freedom was already under siege in
early 2016, with authorities arresting, harassing and
expelling journalists and shutting down or taking over
news outlets," the report says.
Al Jazeera marks World Press Freedom Day
Responding to the CPJ's charges, Saban Disli, deputy
chairman of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development
Party, told Al Jazeera the suspects in question were
actually detained for committing crimes, not for doing
their jobs.
"Arrest of even one journalist doing his job is a high
number for us and it should not happen," Disli said.
"These people, who are employed as journalists,
commit crimes or praise outlawed terrorists in their
articles, such as a suicide bomber who killed scores of
people. Anywhere in the world they would be arrested.
"We don't support these people to be under arrest
during their trials, but some ran away, so the
judiciary keeps them detained. I believe these things
will be evaluated in a less biased manner when the
state of emergency comes to an end."
The CPJ report says that after Turkey, the worst
offender in 2016 was China, where 38 journalists were
in custody on December 1.
China had jailed the most journalists worldwide in the
previous two years.
"In recent weeks, Beijing deepened its crackdown on
journalists who cover protests and human rights
abuses," the report said.



http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/12/cpj-journalist-arrests-2016-30-year-high-161213100347120.html

how many in naija

roccio:
hmmm... God will provide

H-MMM?

Abeg is that another type of MMM?

as in the new raining one now?

As in God will provide through H-MMM?

OgatheTop:


H-MMM?
Abeg is that another type of MMM?
as in the new raining one now?
As in God will provide through H-MMM?

Really tell me something.