US joins China, Cuba on list of nations jailing journalists

The annual list compiled by the watchdog Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ) named 125 editors, writers, and photojournalists imprisoned around the world as of December 1.

China topped the list with 32 journalists in custody, followed by Cuba with 24. The African nations of Eritrea and Ethiopia came next with 15 and 13 respectively.

The United States, which is holding five journalists in detention centers in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, rose to sixth place, just behind Uzbekistan and tied with Burma.

"Anti-state" allegations, including subversion, divulging state secrets, and acting against the interests of the state, were the most common charges used to imprison journalists worldwide, accounting for 78 cases.

"We're particularly troubled that the list of the worst abusers now includes Ethiopia and the United States," CPJ Executive Director Ann Cooper said.

"Journalists covering conflict, unrest, corruption, and human rights abuses face a growing risk of incarceration in many countries, where governments seek to disguise their repressive acts as legitimate legal processes."