The following 8 imprisoned journalists were either directly or indirectly involved in the development of the Prison Papers [click on name link to download portrait photo].
Iran
The journalist Narges Mohammadi, who has contributed to numerous newspapers and published the documentary book White Torture, has been regularly arrested and imprisoned over the past 12 years. Despite her imprisonment Narges Mohammadi continues to denounce what she calls “gender apartheid.” She seeks solutions from seven women she has chosen, ranging from Shirin Ebadi to Jane Goodall.
Guatemala
From his cell, journalist José Rubén Zamora Marroquinrecounts the journey of El Periódico, his newspaper that, for 25 years, exposed corruption in Guatemala. He has been incarcerated and under house arrest since 2015.
China / Hong Kong
The Taiwanese founder of Apple Daily, Jimmy Lai is not only a Hong Kong newspaper publisher imprisoned since 2020 by the Chinese authorities but also a gourmet who sees the island’s restaurants as symbols of its people’s fight for freedom.
Belarus
Since the brutal crackdown began in 2020 and the imprisonment of its founder, Maryna Zolatava, in 2021 in Minsk, the editorial team of Tut.by has continued their work in exile through a new platform, Zerkalo.
Eritrea
Dawit Isaak who reported for Setit has been imprisoned in Eritrea for 23 years without trial. His family, now in Sweden, is left wondering if he is still alive.
Egypt
After being at the forefront of the Arab Spring, the Egyptian blogging scene has largely disappeared. However, Mohamed “Oxygen”(Mohamed Ibrahim Radwan) remains behind bars for his contributions to various online channels, including the “Oxygen” Misr blog, “x2oEgypt” Facebook, MrOxygenEgypt Youtube
Cameroon
On January 17, 2023, radio journalist Martinez Zogo was found dead, brutally murdered. The ongoing trial is critical for the future of press freedom in Cameroon. Meanwhile,Amadou Vamoulké, the former director-general of the national broadcaster CRTV (Cameroon Public Radio and Television), has just been sentenced to 20 years in prison.
India
Since Kashmir’s autonomy was revoked in 2019, the Indian state has intensified its crackdown in a region that has faced insurgency for 35 years. Journalist Irfan Mehrajis among those affected. He previously reported for Wander Magazine, Indian Express, Al Jazeera and Deutsche Welle
Philippines
Repeatedly prosecuted for the investigations led by her media outlet, Rappler, Maria Ressa, the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, shares her experiences in a career that illustrates how journalism has become increasingly dangerous. Maria Ressa is not currently imprisoned, but under threat.
