Reporters Without Borders: Unlawful detention of women journalists increased by 35% in 2020

In a report covering the suppression and targeting of journalists over the past year, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) noted that 42 women journalists unlawfully held in prison in 2020, an increase of 35% from the 31 women journalists detained in 2019.

According to RSF, 387 journalists were detained worldwide in 2020, a record high.

In a report from last year, the Committee to Protect Journalists singled out China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt as the world’s worst jailers of journalists.

In related news, the security situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate amidst renewed anti-corruption protests in the country’s north, security forces in Kerkeslokh (Kirkuk) Province arrested four journalists — Soran Mohammed, Helmat Hassan, Ozen Gula, and Soran Abdul Karim — for covering popular protests in Belkana village. They were handed over to the Sarkaran police station and their cameras and mobile devices were seized.