532 journalists were in prison due to their work as of mid-December 2022. China is the most prolific jailer with 99 journalists identified as being imprisoned there (plus 11 in Hong Kong). In line with President Xi Jinping consolidating his control over the country and implementing tighter controls on the media, China has continued to imprison members of the press. While the figure in 2022 is lower than in the previous year, Reporters Without Borders clarifies that this is “less a sign of an improvement in the situation than the result of unrelenting oppression, ever-growing censorship and far-reaching surveillance.”

Similarly in Turkey, a decrease in imprisonments here does not represent an improvement in the fortunes of Turkish media. Rather, it reflects the successful efforts by President Erdoğan to clamp down on independent reporting and criticism. Dozens of journalists that are not currently in jail in Turkey are still facing trial or appeal and could yet be sentenced while others who have been sentenced in absentia could face lengthy stints behind bars upon their return to the country.

Saudi Arabia’s attitude towards critical journalism hardly needs an introduction after the barbaric murder of Jamal Khashoggi. As of 2022, 26 journalists are in prison in the kingdom.

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