Myanmar regime holds 17 journalists in detention as media crackdown continues

A man holds a sign demanding the release of jailed Myanmar photojournalist Sai Zaw Thaike during a protest in front of the embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 31. (Credit: Hein Aung)

Seventeen journalists remain imprisoned in Myanmar following the Feb. 1, 2021 military coup, human rights group Amnesty International stated on Saturday, citing monitoring data from the expression advocacy organization Athan.

Since the 2021 coup, at least 11 journalists have been killed and 216 arrested across the country.

2026 Press Freedom metrics and releases

According to Athan’s Aug. 20 report, only one journalist has been freed from custody so far in 2026: