In record year, China, Israel, and Myanmar are world’s leading jailers of journalists - Committee to Protect Journalists 1/24/25, 10:29 AM A smuggled sketch shows people inside of Myanmar’s Insein prison in this undated picture obtained by Reuters. (Image: Uncredited via Reuters) Myanmar held 35 journalists at the time of CPJ’s 2024 census. All were taken into custody on anti-state allegations after a 2021 military coup ousted a democratically elected government. "e junta has cracked down on Myanmar’s media, incarcerating and sentencing dozens of journalists among the more than 28,000 political prisoners detained since it seized power. While fewer journalists were held in 2024 than the peak of 42 in the year after the coup, the decline doesn’t re$ect any softening in the military’s criminalization of independent journalism or its intolerance of dissent. Jailed members of the media are typically tried by military tribunals, denied legal representation, and given multi-year sentences under broad anti-state laws such as terrorism, false news, or incitement. Of the eight sentenced in 2024, two – Myo Myint Oo and Shin Daewe – were jailed for life, and a military court sentenced reporter Aung San Oo to 20 years on terrorism charges. (Shin Daewe’s sentence was reduced to 15 years as part of a broader prisoner amnesty in January 2025.) Also still serving 20 years on charges including sedition is photojournalist Sai Zaw "aike, who was arrested in May 2023 while covering the aftermath of a cyclone that killed more than 140 people, including many members of the persecuted and displaced Rohingya minority. #4 Belarus https://cpj.org/thematic-reports/in-record-year-china-israel-and-myanmar-are-worlds-leading-jailers-of-journalists/ Page 11 of 27