Report Lists 10 Countries With Worst Record of Jailing Journalists

A report by the Committee to Protect Journalists has listed the 10 countries who imprison the most journalists, asserting that 2012 was the year of the most jailings of reporters since investigations of the practice began in 1990.

According to CPJ, 232 journalists were imprisoned in 2012, 53 more than last year.  Turkey led the pack with 49 journalists behind bars, followed by Iran and China.

The most common charges brought against journalists are terrorism, treason, and subversion.

The list also includes Eritrea, Syria, Vietnam, Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Uzbekistan, and Saudi Arabia.

In many of the cases, journalists are held without charge or due process, often without access to lawyers or contact with family.