2022 records record number of journalists detained

The report states that 11 reporters were murdered in Mexico, 20% of the total, six in Haiti and three in Brazil.

The crimes, states RSF, “have transformed the Americas into the most dangerous region in the world for the press, with almost half (47,4%) of journalists murdered in the world in 2022”.

More than half of the press professionals detained around the world as of December 1st were in five countries: China (110), Myanmar (62), Iran (47), Vietnam (39) and Belarus (31).

Iran is the only country that was not on this “dark list” in 2021, highlights the NGO, which has published the annual report since 1995.

Unprecedented

The Islamic Republic has arrested an “unprecedented” number of journalists in 20 years since the start of the protest movement in September following the death of young Iranian Kurd Mahsa Amini.

The 22-year-old died after being detained by the morality police for allegedly violating Iran's strict dress code for women, which requires the wearing of a veil.

Thirty-four journalists were detained and joined the 13 who were already detained before the protests began.

“Dictatorial and authoritarian regimes are filling their prisons with journalists faster than ever,” said Christophe Deloire, secretary general of the press freedom organization.

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"Solidarity"

“This new record in the number of journalists detained confirms the urgent need to resist these unscrupulous governments and extend our active solidarity to all those who embody the ideal of freedom, independence and pluralism in journalism”< added Deloire.

RSF also highlighted the record number of women journalists detained, 78, much higher than the 60 last year.

“Women journalists now represent more than 15% of detainees, compared to less than 7% five years ago,” says RSF.

The organization cited the cases of Iranians Nilufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, two of the 15 journalists detained during the protests, who reported on Amini's death and now face the death penalty.

“It is indicative of the Iranian authorities’ desire to systematically silence women,” says RSF.

The organization on Monday awarded the Courage Award to one of them, Narges Mohammadi, who has been detained several times in the last decade.

Almost 75% of detained journalists are in Asia and the Middle East, reports RSF, which highlights the increase in repression in Russia after the invasion of Ukraine.

(AFP)