(Ecofin Agency) - On December 15, 2015, Reporters without Borders (Rsf) published its report on imprisoned, hostages, and missing journalists worldwide. It emerged from it that 54 journalists were taken hostages, 153 imprisoned and 8 missing.

Quite a mitigated report compared to that of previous year. Indeed, the number of journalists taken across the world grew 35% this year against 2014 where they were 40. However, the number of journalists kidnapped for more than 24 hours (freed, killed or kept hostages) dropped.

Under the imprisoned category, 161 citizen-journalists and 14 media assistants are still being held for doing their job. There is a decrease in comparison to 2014 where a total of 178 journalists were imprisoned.

Under the missing category, Rsf numbered 8 journalists worldwide, considering that there was no sufficient information to determine if these people were killed or kidnapped, and also that no claim was broadcasted.

Geographical distribution for missing and hostages journalists reveals significant trends. Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Libya are the countries with the highest numbers in regard to these statistics. Biggest hostage takers include terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State, Houthi movement, Al-Nostra, Al-Qaeda and the Free Syrian Army.

Largest prisons to hold journalists prisoners in descending order are in China, Egypt, Iran, Eritrea and Turkey.