Journalist Jailings Near Record High in 2024: Asia Tops the List

June 20, 2025 – General – 

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the number of jailed journalists worldwide reached 361 by December 1, 2024, marking the second-highest total since CPJ began tracking in 1992. The surge reflects a sharp increase in global crackdowns on press freedom, driven by war, authoritarianism, and shrinking democratic space.

Asia emerged as the region with the highest number of imprisoned journalists, accounting for 111 out of the 361 cases. In a Rappler interview, CPJ’s Asia Program Director, Beh Lih Yi, emphasized the alarming trend, saying, “Asia is now the top jailer of journalists in the world.” Countries like China (50 journalists), Myanmar (35), and Vietnam (16) were major contributors to the region’s tally. Other Asian countries on the list included Bangladesh, India, the Philippines, and Afghanistan.

China continues to be the world’s leading jailer of journalists, where reporters are often imprisoned under sweeping national security laws and vague charges such as “subversion” or “spreading false information.” Myanmar’s military regime, in power since the 2021 coup, has used martial courts to imprison journalists for their reporting. In a striking shift, Israel ranked second globally with 43 Palestinian journalists detained during the ongoing conflict in Gaza—the highest figure CPJ has ever recorded for the country.

Elsewhere, authoritarian crackdowns were also severe. Belarus and Russia jailed dozens of journalists, mostly for reporting on protests, war, or criticizing the government. Over 60% of imprisoned journalists globally face anti-state charges like terrorism, incitement, or defamation—broad accusations often used to criminalize independent reporting.

CPJ warned that this global trend represents not just a threat to journalists but to democracy itself. “When journalism is silenced, public accountability disappears,” said CPJ President Jodie Ginsberg.

The continued rise in detentions reflects a climate of fear and censorship, where speaking truth to power carries extreme consequences. Press freedom groups are calling for urgent international action to protect journalists and uphold the right to free expression, especially in the world’s most repressive regimes.

Reference – 

https://www.rappler.com/video/rappler-talk-video/interview-beh-lih-yi-asia-top-jailer-journalists/

Journalist jailings near record high in 2024 as crackdown on press freedom grows