Freedom to Write Index: China worst jailer of writers in 2022, NGO says
Hong Kong Free Press
China is the world’s largest jailer of writers, according to PEN America’s Freedom to Write Index 2022, released on Thursday. The free expression NGO counted 90 cases of writers behind bars, with six new cases added last year.
It is the fourth consecutive year that China has topped the index.
“China’s leader Xi Jinping began a historic third term as leader of the ruling Chinese Communist Party in October 2022, consolidating political power and signalling that tightened restrictions on free expression would continue,” a statement said.
However, it added that – despite tightening controls – public anger over Covid-19 lockdowns grew last year, and a lone protester – Peng Lifa – unfurled banners calling on Xi to resign. “His solitary act and slogans inspired members of the Chinese diaspora and expatriates to start a poster campaign in cities around the world,” the statement said.
The report stated that “in China, virtually all aspects of cultural production are under the control of the state, and engaging in independent creative work involves grave risk.”
Hongkongers at risk
The report added that Hong Kong writers and residents faced different political and legal challenges to their mainland counterparts, saying that nine writers were in custody as of last year, following the imposition of the national security law in 2020.
“Authorities in Hong Kong ignored a call from the UN in July to repeal the [security law] and the now increasingly applied colonial-era sedition law to target critical expression. Journalists, writers, book publishers, and social media commentators have been arrested for sedition and other crimes,” the report said.
The Beijing-imposed security law gave police sweeping new powers, alarming democrats, civil society groups and trade partners, as such laws have been used broadly to silence and punish dissidents in China. However, the authorities say it has restored stability and peace to the city and only affects a small minority of people.
In all, 311 were jailed globally last year. Governments which follow China in the index include Iran, with 57 jailed writers, Saudi Arabia, with 20 jailed writers, and Belarus, Myanmar, and Vietnam, each with 16 reporters behind bars.
The wording of the Chinese constitution guarantees “freedom of speech [and] of the press.” However, China ranked 175th out of 180 in the 2022 Reporters Without Border World Press Freedom Index and “is the world’s largest captor of journalists,” the NGO says.
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