Egypt has been ranked as the fourth largest imprisoners of journalists in 2014, according to the Paris-based press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RWB), with 16 journalists serving jail terms.
Moreover, the report ranked Egypt in second place among countries with highest number of arrested journalists.
“In Egypt, 46 journalists were arrested this year on such pretexts are being Muslim Brotherhood sympathizers, endangering national unity or inciting violence or riots. The political situation does not justify President Sisi’s repressive policies and the propaganda regime he has established,” the report said.
Worldwide, 66 journalists were murdered this year bringing the total number of victims killed to 720 since 2005, according to the tally. The numer of journalists kidnapped rose to 119, marking an increase of more than 35 percent on 2013 figures. Forty journalists are currently being held hostage. Meanwhile, 853 journalists were arrested, indicating a 3 percent increase in 2013.
Syria was on top of the five deadliest countries for journalists with 15 journalists killed in 2014, then came Palestine with seven, Ukraine with six, Iraq with four and Libya also with four.
Most of the abduction cases were in the MENA region. However,Ukraine came on top of countries with highest numbers of kidnappings (33), then came Libya (29), then Syria (27) and then Iraq (20). The report blamed most of the abduction on the terrorist group called the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria as well as the turmoil in Libya.
The report also marked the territories controlled by the IS in Syria and Iraq as well as eastern Libya among the five most dangerous areas for journalists in 2014.