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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A record number of journalists has been detained worldwide in 2016, according to a report released Tuesday. Turkey is the worst offender, accounting for nearly one third of the total.“Amid an ongoing crackdown that accelerated after a failed coup attempt in July, Turkey is jailing at least 81 journalists in relation to their work,” reported the press freedom watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).This is “the highest number in any one country at any time,” according to the group’s records, which date back to 1990.A total of 259 journalists were in jail on December 1, 2016, the most CPJ has ever documented in 26 years. This number does not include those who were imprisoned and released throughout the year.While noting that Ankara has accelerated its media crackdown after the failed July 15 coup, “media freedom was already under siege in early 2016,” CPJ stated, adding that Kurdish media outlets have been targeted by the authorities.“Turkish authorities have also subjected Kurdish journalists to a fresh round of arrests and trials, in addition to shutting down pro-Kurdish news outlets,” the organization reported.Charges against the detained journalists include membership in a terrorist organization and spreading terrorist propaganda. Many of these charges relate to alleged association with the Gulen movement, which Ankara claims was behind the attempted coup, and the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).CPJ attempted to investigate individual cases but reported that, in many cases, documents have been sealed and lawyers were unwilling to speak with the press freedom advocates.