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Article 117 of the [[Probable year:: 1839]] Honduran Constitution first protected press freedom: “It will not be possible to restrict in any case or by any pretext, the freedom of thought, of the word, that of writing, or that of the press” (Bufeterosa, “Constitucion de [[Probable year:: 1839]]” ). [Translated from Spanish]
Article 72 of the [[Probable year:: 1982]] Honduran Constitution states that “expression of thought shall be free, and be expressed through any means of dissemination, without prior censorship” (Constitute Project, “Honduras's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1982]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2013]]” ). +
Law 18 of 1848 asserted protection of freedom of the press.
Hungary protected press freedom under Article 61 of its [[Probable year:: 1949]] Constitution: “The Republic of Hungary recognizes and respects the freedom of the press” (OHCHR, “Act XX of [[Probable year:: 1949]]” ).
Article IX of the [[Probable year:: 2011]] Hungarian Constitution protects press freedom: “Hungary shall recognise and protect the freedom and diversity of the press, and shall ensure the conditions for free dissemination of information necessary for the formation of democratic public opinion” (Constitute Project, “Hungary's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 2011]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2013]]” ).
References:
Hungary Loi 18 de 1848: F.R. Dareste; P. Dareste. Constitutions Modernes: Recueil des Constitutions en Vigueur dans les Divers Etats d'Europe, d'Amerique et du Monde Civilise (3).
https://heinonline-org.mutex.gmu.edu/HOL/Page?handle=hein.cow/comorcv0001&collection=cow&index=cow/comorcv516&id=516#
1949 Hungary Constitution: English translation of the Hungarian original text of the Constitution of 1949 669 (2013) Chapter 8: Rights and Duties of Citizens https://heinonline-org.mutex.gmu.edu/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzhu0045&id=12&men_tab=srchresults
“Hungary 2011 (Rev. 2016) Constitution.” Constitute. https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Hungary_2016. +
Iceland’s first press freedom protections came while it was a part of Denmark under Section 77 of the [[Probable year:: 1849]] Danish Constitutional Act (see above).
Today, Freedom of the press is not explicitly protected in Iceland’s [[Probable year:: 1944]] Constitution. However, Article 73’s protections for freedom of expression extend to the press: “Everyone shall be free to express his thoughts, but shall also be liable to answer for them in court. The law may never provide for censorship or other similar limitations to freedom of expression” (Constitute Project, “Iceland's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1944]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2013]]” ). +
India’s [[Probable year:: 1949]] Constitution does not explicitly protect press freedom, but it is conventionally understood that Article 19 protections on freedom of expression legally extend to the press (Gaur [[Probable year:: 1994]], p. 429). +
Indonesia’s [[Probable year:: 1945]] Constitution does not formally protect freedom of the press, but does protect freedom of expression (Constitute Project, “Indonesia's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1945]], Reinstated in [[Probable year:: 1959]], with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2002]]” ). Indonesia Law No. 40 in [[Probable year:: 1999]] outlined explicit protections for press freedom: “the freedom of the press is one of the many embodiments of the sovereignty of the people and is the utmost important element in creating a democratic society, nation and state in order to insure the freedom of expressing ideas and opinions as stated in Article 28 of the Indonesian Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1945]]” (Human Rights and Peace for Papua, “Indonesian Law No. 40 in [[Probable year:: 1999]] on Press”). +
Article 20 of the Supplementary Constitutional Law of 7 October 1907 reads: "All publications, except heretical works containing matter harmful to the religion of Islam, are free, and are exempt from censureship. Whenever anything contrary to the law of the press is found in them, the publisher or author will be punished in accordance with that law. If the author is well known and resident in Persia, the publisher, printer and distributor shall be secured from any action being brought against them."
Today, Article 24 of the [[Probable year:: 1979]] Iranian Constitution discusses protections for press freedom, with some caveats: “Publications and the press have freedom of expression except when it is detrimental to the fundamental principles of Islam or the rights of the public. The details of this exception will be specified by law” (Constitute Project, “Iran (Islamic Republic of)'s Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1979]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 1989]]” ).
References:
Wright, Herbert F. Constitutions of the States at War 1914-1918 . Washington, U.S. Govt. Print. Off.: https://heinonline-org.proxygw.wrlc.org/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/stwar0001&id=499&men_tab=srchresults#
“Iran (Islamic Republic of) 1979 (Rev. 1989) Constitution.” Constitute. https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Iran_1989. +
Article 12 of Iraq’s [[Probable year:: 1925]] Constitution first protected press freedom: “Freedom of expression of opinion, liberty of publication, of meeting together, and of forming and joining associations is guaranteed to all Iraqis within such limits as may be prescribed by law”.
Article 38 of Iraq’s [[Probable year:: 2005]] Constitution protects press freedom: “The State shall guarantee in a way that does not violate public order and morality… Freedom of press, printing, advertisement, media and publication” (Constitute Project, “Iraq's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 2005]]” ).
References:
Iraq 1925 Constitution: https://constitution.org/1-Constitution/cons/iraq/iraqiconst19250321.html
“Iraq 2005 Constitution.” Constitute. Accessed July 19, 2023. https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Iraq_2005. +
Israel has no formal protections on freedom of the press in their Basic Law and according to Freedom House, “the Knesset consistently refuses to pass legislation that would incorporate it into the Basic Laws.” However, the Israeli Supreme Court has “affirmed that freedom of expression is an essential component of human dignity” and has issued rulings protecting press freedom as a foundational principle of Israel’s Declaration of Independence (Freedom House, “Freedom of the Press [[Probable year:: 2017]] – Israel”). +
Article 21 of Italy’s [[Probable year:: 1948]] Constitution protects press freedom: “Anyone has the right to freely express their thoughts in speech, writing, or any other form of communication. The press may not be subjected to any authorisation or censorship” (Constitute Project, “Italy's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1947]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2012]]” ). +
Ivory Coast’s [[Probable year:: 1960]] Constitution described the facilitation of telecommunication as fundamental, but did not explicitly mention freedom of the press (Présidence de la République de Côte d’Ivoire, “Constitution 1ère Republique”). [Translated from French]
Today, Ivory Coast’s [[Probable year:: 2016]] Constitution contains no explicit mention of freedom of the press, but Article 19 protects the “right to express and disseminate their ideas freely” under their protections of freedom of expression (Constitute Project, “Côte d'Ivoire's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 2016]]” ). +
Article 13 of Jamaica’s [[Probable year:: 1962]] Constitution protects press freedom: “The rights and freedoms referred to in subsection (2) are as follows… the right to seek, receive, distribute or disseminate information, opinions and ideas through any media” (Constitute Project, “Jamaica's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1962]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2015]]” ). +
Article 29 of the 1889 Japan Constitution stated: "Japanese subjects shall within the limits of the law, enjoy the liberty of speech, writing, publication, public meeting and association."
Article 21 of Japan's 1947 Constitution guaranteed freedom of the press as well: "Freedom of assembly and association as well as speech, press and all other forms of expression are guaranteed."
References:
1889 Japan Constitution: https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Japan_1889
1946 Japan Constitution: https://japan.kantei.go.jp/constitution_and_government_of_japan/constitution_e.html +
Article 15 of Jordan’s [[Probable year:: 1952]] Constitution guarantees freedom of the press: “Freedom of the press and publications shall be ensured within the limits of the law” (Refworld, “The Constitution of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan”). +
Article 10 of the 1993 Kazakhstan Constitution asserts freedom of expression in general. Article 11 bears more directly on freedom of the press: "A citizen of the Republic shall have the right to receive and disseminate any information through any legitimate way for his choice."
References:
"The Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan," International Legal Perspectives 5, no. 1 (1993): 111 +
In the 1963 Constitution freedom of the press can be inferred from Article 23(1): "Except with his own consent, no. person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of expression, that is to say, freedom to hold opinions without interference, freedom to receive ideas and information without interference, freedom to communicate ideas and information without interference (whether the communication be to the public generally or to any person or class of persons) and freedom from interference with his correspondence."
Article 34 of the [[Probable year:: 2010]] Kenyan Constitution explicitly guarantees freedom of the media: “Freedom and independence of electronic, print and all other types of media is guaranteed…” (Constitute Project, “Kenya's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 2010]]” ).
References:
1963 Constitution of Kenya: http://kenyalaw.org/kl/fileadmin/pdfdownloads/1963_Constitution.pdf
2010 Constitution of Kenya: https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Kenya_2010 +
Article 7 of the [[Probable year:: 1814]] Dutch Constitution protects press freedom: “No one shall require prior permission to publish thoughts or opinions through the press, without prejudice to the responsibility of every person under the law" (Constitute Project, “ Kingdom of the Netherland's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1814]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2008]]” ). +
Kiribati’s [[Probable year:: 1979]] Constitution contains no explicit press freedom protections, but Article 12’s freedom of expression protections extend “freedom to receive ideas and information without interference, freedom to communicate ideas and information without interference and freedom from interference with his correspondence” (Constitute Project, “Kiribati's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1979]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2013]]” ). +
Article 37 of the Kuwait’s [[Probable year:: 1962]] Constitution protects press freedom: “Freedom of the press and of publication is guaranteed, subject to the conditions and stipulations prescribed by Law” (Constitute Project, “Kuwait's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1962]], Reinstated in [[Probable year:: 1992]]” ). +
Article 16.2 of the 1993 Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic as amended in February 1996 asserts that all persons in the country shall enjoy "freedom of the press, transmission and dissemination of information".
References:
1993 Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic as amended in February 1996: http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/research/kyrgyzrepublic-constitution.html +
Articles 44 and 45 of the [[Probable year:: 1991]] Laos Constitution do not explicitly protect press freedom, but imply a protection of media production through freedom of expression: “Lao citizens have the right and freedom of speech, press and assembly; and have the right to set up associations and to stage demonstrations which are not contrary to the laws… Lao citizens have the right and freedom to conduct studies in and to apply advanced sciences, techniques and technologies; to create artistic and literary works [;] and to engage in cultural activities which are not contrary to the laws” (Constitute Project, “Lao People's Democratic Republic's Constitution of [[Probable year:: 1991]] with Amendments through [[Probable year:: 2003]]” ). +