CPJ's 2009 tally of imprisoned journalists put Iran second only to China, with only one fewer journalist in jail – 23 instead of 24. Most of those were arrested in the crackdown that followed the 2009 presidential election. About half were online journalists. But because Iran continued to arrest journalists for more than a year after the election, CPJ began keeping monthly tallies of imprisoned journalists in Iran. That number peaked in March 2010 at 52, far surpassing China's 2009 total.
Many Iranian journalists have also fled the country for their safety since the 2009 election. CPJ estimated in June 2010 that at least 29 Iranian reporters, photographers and editors fled in the previous 12 months.