Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Imprisoned, Attacked & Dead Bloggers Increases Worldwide in 2009

Imprisoned, Attacked & Dead Bloggers Increases Worldwide in 2009

Written by Abraham Hyatt / December 30, 2009 3:30 PM / 5 Comments

prisonblogger_1209.jpgAccording to a report released today [PDF] by Reporters Sans Frontières, the number of bloggers around the world arrested because of their online work jumped from 59 to 151 between 2008 and 2009, an increase of 155%. Additionally, one blogger died in prison and 61 were physically assaulted. The most infamous cases perhaps occurred during the violent unrest in Iran following Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed reelection. But RSF said the number of overall arrests and attacks can actually be traced to crackdowns in at least 10 countries.

"The number of countries affected by online censorship has doubled from one year to the next - a disturbing tendency that shows an increase in control over new media as millions of netizens get active online," said Lucie Morillon, head of the group's Internet and Freedoms Desk.

prisonbloggerchart_1209.jpg

The report is a profoundly depressing read. As tech journalists writing from the soft comfort of our homes, it's easy to forget that in many places of the world, the simple act of posting something to a blog has lethal repercussions.

Elections, politics and the economy were the primary reasons bloggers ended up in jail. While China is the worst, Iran, Tunisia, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Uzbekistan also frequently monitor or block websites and blogs.

From the report:

"Two Azerbaijani bloggers, who were sentenced to two years in prison for making a film mocking the political elite.The Turkmen Internet remains under total state control. Egyptian blogger Kareem Amer is still in jail, while the famous Burmese comedian Zarganar still has 34 years of his prison sentence to serve. Victims of Internet policing also include such leading figures in the defence of online free expression as China's Hu Jia and Liu Xiaobo and Vietnam's Nguyen Trung and Dieu Cay.

"In South Korea, a blogger was wrongfully detained for commenting on the country's disastrous economic situation. Around six netizens in Thailand were arrested or harassed just for making a connection between the king's health and a fall in the Bangkok stock exchange."

In March, Reporters Sans Frontières will launch what it's calling the Enemies of the Internet campaign to highlight the countries affected by online intimidation and censorship.

Photo by Amir Darafsheh, Tehran, Iran.


Comments

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  1. Why are you putting bloggers and real journalists in the same discussion?

    Journalism is intelligent writing based on facts.

    Blogging is whatever you think with enough "facts" to support your opinion.

    Not the same.

     Posted by: mb01915 Author Profile Page

    | December 30, 2009 4:26 PM



  • What a sobering set of statistics. Great post, Abraham - Thanks for sharing with all of us.

    Makes me a lot more thankful for the freedom to be a loudmouthed, obnoxious twit on the Internet when I need to or feel like it. My heart goes out to those who are not so fortunate.

     Posted by: Jolie O'Dell Author Profile Page | December 30, 2009 4:49 PM



  • I see, in the chart, real journalists made distinct from bloggers. Indeed, the journalists are at the top of the list.
    As for bloggers, they may be an unreliable bunch, but they are an unreliable bunch under attack, subject to arrest, beatings and even murder just like their more professional counterparts.
    I presume that's why.

    Ll.

    Posted by: Droniggle | December 30, 2009 4:51 PM



  • MB01915 - Go back to watching Fox News if that is what you think. People who make comments like yours would not be able to spot "intelligent writing" if it hit them in their big, hard heads.

    Why are you commenting at all if that is what you think? Do you visit blogs just to belittle them? Why don't you go to the Newsweek website? You can read about how the birth of Shiloh (Pitt and Jolie's baby) is one of the top 10 Cultural Moments of the decade. Since Newsweek says it, it must be true right?

    Posted by: Danielle | December 30, 2009 4:55 PM



  • mb01915: I think blogging is too gray of an area to say that bloggers categorically shouldn't be considered journalists. There's no doubt that much of the blogging world doesn't fall into the journalism category. But, for instance, what about someone in Iran who blogs about a protest they were in. How different is that from a reporter do the same thing? The question isn't who is a journalist and who isn't. It's who do you trust. I trust some bloggers more than I trust some traditional journalism entities. If you earn my trust through quality reporting, I don't care who you write for or where. Because of that I'm glad that RSF is including bloggers in their report. Censorship is censorship, not mater who it's directed at.

     Posted by: Abraham Hyatt Author Profile Page | December 30, 2009 5:01 PM



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