The Committee to Protect Journalists says more journalists around the world are sitting in prisons than ever before.

The U.S.-based group on Tuesday said Turkey, Iran and China have imprisoned the most journalists. The journalists' group says that such states are using stepped-up anti-terror and anti-state charges to silence critical reporters.

The Committee to Protect Journalists says it has identified 232 writers, editors, and photojournalists behind bars as of Dec. 1, an increase of 53 from 2011 figures. The 232 number is a record high since the group began its yearly tally in the 1990s.

CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said anti-state charges and "terrorist" labels have become the preferred means that governments use to intimidate and detain journalists.