More than 300 journalists around the world have been jailed for their work, according to a report

NEW YORK — An estimated 320 journalists have been jailed around the world for their work toward the end of 2023, according to a report released Thursday by the Committee to Protect Journalists, which says the committee is silencing independent voices. It was a disturbing attempt to do so.

This is the second highest number of imprisoned journalists since the commission began its annual census in 1992. The commission said the number was down from 367 in 2022, mainly because many journalists inside Iran were released on bail or awaiting sentencing.

“Our investigation is a global and authoritative investigation into how governments are hell-bent on stamping out critical reporting and impeding public accountability,” said Jodi Ginsburg, CEO of the commission. “It shows how deep-rooted the doctrine is.”

According to the report, according to CPJ’s Dec. 1, 2023 census, more than one-third of journalists in prison were from China, Myanmar, and Belarus.

Israel tied for sixth place with Iran, the country’s highest ranking on CPJ’s annual list. The report said all 17 people held in Israeli custody at the time of the census were Palestinians arrested in the West Bank since the war began between Israel and Hamas on October 7. .

According to CPJ, 12 of the 17 non-local journalists imprisoned around the world were being held in Russia. Among them are two Americans, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovic and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Ars Kurmasheva, both of whom are pending trial. He is being detained.