The number of journalists who have been jailed globally have hit a whole new record with 259 cases in 2016, up from the 199 in 2015, according to a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

The report found that Turkey, which has constantly made news over press freedom, topped the list, arresting a record-high 81 journalists. China comes in second with 38, followed by Eritrea, which recorded 17 arrests.

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The CPJ reported that the listed 81 journalists were blamed for an anti-state coup by Turkish residents in July as they rose to impeach President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The coup was, however, short-lived with journalists feeling the final blow after the government together with the military closed down over 100 news outlets.

A similar incident of media outlets being shut down has been experienced in March after one of Turkey's biggest newspaper, Zaman Almanya, was raided and seized by the Turkish government.

"That was the moment that the government showed that they have no scruples about entering media outlets, taking it in a hostile manner and then arresting even some of the top editors of that newspaper," Nina Ognianova, CPJ Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator, said.

China has also been on the frontline on its journalism sector under President Xi Jinping governing body. Strict rules and regulations have been put in place in the state that recorded a total of 38 imprisoned journalists cases.

An early report revealed that President Xi Jinping was noted to have encouraged journalist in China to work in accordance with the communist's party principles.

TagsTurkey, china, CPJ, Journalist imprisonment