The Coalition For Women In Journalism documented cases of women journalists that were in prisons during 2018. This report looks at the countries with the most women jailed, alongside the rising trend of imprisoning women journalists for their work during the year itself.

This data looks at journalists arrested between 2009-2018, and specifically talks about the 40 women that are still behind bars in 2018, located in 9 different countries. Turkey was the largest jailer of women journalists in 2018, with 37.5 % behind bars. This included our colleagues Hanım Büşra Erdal, Ayşe Nazlı Ilıcak, Hatice Duman and more.

China followed with 17.5% or seven women journalists in prison, and Iran with 15% or six women journalists in jail. including Wang Jing, Li Zhaoxium and Gulmira Imin, who's been in prison in 2009. Iran was responsible for 15% of the total global share, including Narges Mohammadi, Sepideh Qoliyan and Hengameh Shahidi.

The three countries have has serious censorship issues in the past, and the fact that they are the top three jailers of women journalists comes as no surprise to anyone keeping an eye on the situation. The top three were followed by Saudi Arabia, which is accountable for 10% of the women journalists jailed in the world. Like the top three, it also has a troubled relationship with journalists, and this is much more true when it comes to women journalists.

Israel, Egypt and Vietnam have jailed two women journalists each. Syria and Nicaragua also have one journalist each behind bars.

Data collected by The Coalition For Women in Journalism looked at the 40 women journalists that still behind bars. While some cases go as far back as 2009, we find that the trend to imprison women journalists for their work picked up speed with the year 2016.

The year 2018 was possibly the worst for women journalists, as 21 new cases were brought to our attention.

The year before, i.e. 2017, had only seen nine women journalists jailed for their work. In 2016, five women journalists went to prison. Since 106, the number of women journalists being targeted with jail time has almost doubled every year.

On the other hand, 2009 had two cases. The next cases didn't take place until 2014, where two women journalists were placed behind bars. One woman journalist was put in prison in 2015.

This year has effectively been the worst year for women journalists.

This report was developed with the support of The Craig Newmark Philanthropies.

Writer and Researcher: Luavut Zahid

Executive Editor: Kiran Nazish

Design: Luavut Zahid

For more information, email us at data@womeninjournalism.org.