232 journalists jailed worldwide: Committee to Protect Journalists

NEW YORK (AP) - The Committee to Protect Journalists said in a report on Tuesday that a record-number 232 journalists are imprisoned worldwide and that Turkey has the highest number with 49 journalists behind bars.

The total is 53 more than the tally last year and is the highest number since the New York-based organisation began conducting worldwide surveys in 1990.

The census of journalists behind bars on Dec 1 found that anti-state charges such as terrorism, treason and subversion were the most common brought against journalists in 2012. At least 132 journalists are being held around the world on such charges, CPJ said.

The group said that broadly worded anti-terror laws have allowed Turkish authorities to equate the coverage of banned groups with terrorism.