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The first assertion of the freedom of religion in Tanzania is the 1977 constitution after the unification of the states of Tanganyika and Zanzibar after their independence from the United Kingdom. Article 9, 13, 19, and 39.2 grants religious freedom, equality, and prohibit religious discrimination. The preamble and article 3 declare Tanzania to be secular.

https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Tanzania_2005

THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA Office of The Attorney General. “The Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania of 1977.” Last modified 2005. Accessed July 5, 2022. https://oagmis.agctz.go.tz/portal/constitutions/eyJpdiI6IkFmY0NLQ1wvQWJsUmliZWUxbWh1MVpnPT0iLCJ2YWx1ZSI6IlIwdWx4VnQ3a3plWnFqb0pjcnlvQlE9PSIsIm1hYyI6ImEwNTQxYzdhNTIxMThlYWJlNzU3Mzc5NzZkMmRiYWJkODc4Nzc1ZjVjYjY0NTQ5OTQxYzg3NmYwMDZlN2Y5ZjkifQ==

The Constitution of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas was ratified on July 10th 1973. Article 22 protects freedom of religion. The preamble does specifically mention Christian values and the supremacy of God. Constitution Project. “Bahamas (the) 1973 Constitution.” Constitute, POGO, 27 Apr. 2022, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Bahamas_1973?lang=en.

The Bahamas’ 1973 Constitution contains the first assertion of freedom of religion in the country’s independent history. Article 22 of the document outlines this right.

“Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.” The Government of the Bahamas. Accessed July 20, 2023. https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/wcm/connect/04fb4632-1bd7-414f-b66e-9c499b382480/Chap+3+Protection+rights+and+freedoms.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

The first assertion of the freedom of religion in Togo would be the Constitution de la République Togolaise, 5 mai 1963 (5th of May, 1963).

https://www.loc.gov/resource/amedscd.2008700247/?sp=7&r=-1.395,-0.017,3.789,1.703,0

The first assertion of Religious Freedom is in the 1976 Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in Chapter 1, Part 1, Article 4, Point H. This article asserts multiple human rights and guarantees equality regardless of religion, as well as the protection of freedom of conscience and religious belief and observance.

The Verification Research, Training and Information Centre. Laws of Trinidad and Tobago. Constitution of 1976. https://www.vertic.org/media/National%20Legislation/Trinidad_and_Tobago/TT_Constitution.pdf

In the 1961 Constitution of The Turkish Republic, Freedom of religion is asserted as Freedom of thought and faith, under Section II, Part IV, Article 19. This Article protects citizens from being compelled to worship, and also guarantees them the choice of faith and practices of worship. It also mentions “no person shall be reproached for his religion or faith; and no person shall be allowed to exploit and abuse religion for the purpose of political or personal benefit.”

1961 Constitution of the Turkish Republic. https://www.anayasa.gen.tr/1961constitution-text.pdf

The assertion of religious freedom is covered within the first constitution of Tuvalu, Under Part II, Division 3, Article 23, upon gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1978. This article guarantees freedom of belief, including religion, and articulates the responsibilities and rights of religious groups and education, protection from conformity, as well as circumstantial provisions of this freedom.

International Labour Organization. Constitution of Tuvalu 1978. 2008 rev. https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/3899/95791/F656430737/TUV3899.pdf

Under Title II, Article 35, Freedom of religion is first asserted in the 1996 Constitution of Ukraine. This Article addresses guaranteed protection of choice and practice of worship, separation of church and state, and asserts alternatives in the case of conscientious objection to military service.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Constitution of Ukraine. 1996. https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/ukr127467E.pdf

The Constitution of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay was ratified in 1830. Article 5 grants freedom of religion. Article 5 declares the state supports no religion.

Constitution Project. “Uruguay 1966 (Reinst. 1985, Rev. 2004) Constitution.” Constitute. POGO, April 27, 2022. Last modified April 27, 2022. Accessed July 5, 2022. https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Uruguay_2004?lang=en.

Freedom of Religion is asserted in the 1980 Constitution of Vanuatu under Chapter 2, Part I, Article 5, Subject 1.F. This article covers multiple fundamental rights and freedoms, and guarantees equality regardless of religion. Subject 1.F specifies freedom of conscience and worship.

Constitute Project. 1980 Constitution of Vanuatu. https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Vanuatu_2013

Freedom of religion is covered in the 1946 Constitution of Vietnam. Equality regardless of religion is guaranteed in the preamble, and in Chapter I, Article 1. Chapter 2, Article 10 grants (iv) the freedom of belief to all Vietnamese citizens.

Bloomsbury Professional Media. Vietnam Constitution 1946. https://media.bloomsburyprofessional.com/rep/files/vietnam-constitution-1946x.pdf

Freedom of Religion is asserted in the 1964 Constitution of Zambia under Chapter III, Section 13, Article 21. This article asserts freedom to choose a religion, worship in a group or private setting, and manifest or propagate his religion and its practices. It also prevents forced religious instruction in schools and prohibits prevention of practice.

The current Constitution of Zambia was ratified on January 5, 2016. The preamble asserts the protection of freedom of religion, while also declaring Zambia a Christian Republic. Articles 8(d), 118.2(a), and 173.3(a) prohibit discrimination and article 266 defines discrimination to include religious discrimination.

World Statesman. Constitution of Zambia 1964. https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Constitution-Zambia1964.pdf

Parliament of Zambia . “Government of Zambia Act -.” Last modified January 5, 2016. Accessed July 6, 2022. https://www.parliament.gov.zm/sites/default/files/documents/amendment_act/Constitution%20of%20Zambia%20%20(Amendment),%202016-Act%20No.%202_0.pdf.

Article 31 of the 1964 Afghanistan Constitution states that “every Afghan shall have the right to express thoughts through speech, writing, illustrations as well as other means in accordance with provisions of this constitution” (University of Nebraska, “Constitution of Afghanistan,” 1964) . Every Afghan shall have the right, according to provisions of law, to print and publish on subjects without prior submission to state authorities. Directives related to the press, radio and television as well as publications and other mass media shall be regulated by law.” This clause is now located in Article 34 of the 2004 Afghanistan Constitution (Constitute Project, “Afghanistan’s Constitution of 2004” ).

References:

1964 Afghanistan Constitution: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=afghanenglish

2004 Afghanistan Constitution: https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Afghanistan_2004?%20lang=en

Article 19 of the 1963 Algerian Constitution states that “the Republic guarantees freedom of the press and of other means of information, freedom of association, freedom of speech and public intervention, and freedom of assembly” (Middle East Journal, 1963) .

Today, Article 54 of the Algerian Constitution protects freedom of the press, stating that “freedom of the press, be it written, audiovisual, or on media networks, shall be guaranteed equally for all public and private media outlets. It shall not be restricted by any form of prior censorship” (Constitute Project, “Algeria 2020” ).

References:

“The Algerian Constitution.” The Middle East journal 17, no. 4 (1963): 446–450.

“Algeria 2020 Constitution.” Constitute. Accessed September 14, 2022. https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Algeria_2020?lang=en.

Article 35 of the 1992 Constitution marked Angola’s first explicit legal mention of freedom of the press: “Freedom of the press shall be guaranteed and may not be subject to any censorship, especially political, ideological or artistic. The manner of the exercise of freedom of the press and adequate provisions to prevent and punish any abuse thereof shall be regulated by law” (“Constitutional Law of the Republic of Angola 1992” ).

Today, Article 44 of the 2010 Angolan Constitution maintains that “freedom of the press shall be guaranteed, and may not be subject to prior censorship, namely of a political, ideological or artistic nature” (Constitute Project, “Angola’s 2010 Constitution”).

References:

1992 Angola Constitution: https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/Angola%20Constitution.pdf

2010 Angola Constitution: https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Angola_2010

According to Article 161 of the 1826 Argentina Constitution, "The liberty of publishing his ideas through the medium of the Press, which is a right as valuable to Man, as it is essential to the preservation of civil liberty, shall be fully guaranteed by the Laws"

Article 32 of the 1853 Argentinian Constitution states that “the Federal Congress shall not enact laws that restrict the freedom of the press or that establish federal jurisdiction over it” (Constitute Project, “Argentina's Constitution of 1853, Reinstated in 1983, with Amendments through 1994” ).

References:

Constitution of the Argentine Republic, 1826, English translation of the original Constitution of 1826. 956 (2010) Section VIII: General Regulations: https://heinonline-org.proxygw.wrlc.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.cow/zzar0004&id=15&collection=cow&index=

“Argentina 1853 (Reinst. 1983, Rev. 1994) Constitution.” Constitute: https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Argentina_1994?lang=en

Australia has no formal protection of press freedom in its constitution (Australian Human Rights Commission). Australia’s High Court has ruled that an “implied freedom of political communication exists as an indispensable part of the system of representative government created by the Constitution” in Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Wills (1992), Australian Capital Television Pty Ltd v the Commonwealth (1992), and Unions NSW v New South Wales (2013).

References:

“Freedom of Information, Opinion and Expression.” The Australian Human Rights Commission: https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/rights-and-freedoms/freedom-information-opinion-and-expression

Article 50 of the Azerbaijan Constitution of 1995 states “The freedom of mass media is guaranteed. State censorship of mass media, including print media, is forbidden” (Constitute Project, “Azerbaijan's Constitution of 1995 with Amendments through 2016” ).

References:

“Azerbaijan 1995 (rev. 2016).” Constitute. https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Azerbaijan_2016

Blaustein, Albert P., and Gisbert H. Flanz. Constitutions of the Countries of the World; a Series of Updated Texts, Constitutional Chronologies and Annotated Bibliographies. "Azerbaijan Republic, Booklet 2, 1996" Permanent ed. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y: Oceana Publications, 1971.

Article 39 of the 1972 Bangladesh Constitution states that “(1) Freedom or thought and conscience is guaranteed. (2) Subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interests of the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence-(a) the right of every citizen of freedom of speech and expression; and freedom of the press, are guaranteed."

References:

http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/research/bangladesh-constitution.pdf

Article 33 of Belarus’s 1994 Constitution bans censorship and mass media monopolies, whether state mass media monopolies or otherwise

References:

1994 Constitution of the Republic of Belarus: https://heinonline-org.proxygw.wrlc.org/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzby0006&id=4&men_tab=srchresults

1994 Constitution of the Republic of Belarus as amended in 1996: https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL(2003)065-e

While press freedom was not explicitly protected in the 1981 Constitution of Belize, it is reasonable to infer that the broadly drawn protections of freedom of expression encompass freedom of the press as well. The guarantee refers to the protection of communication generally, "whether the communication be to the public generally or to any person or class of persons." The exceptions that it offers are also suggestive of application to the press, in its reference to the potential for the coexistence of freedom of expression with law "that is reasonably required for the purpose of protecting the reputations, rights and freedoms of other persons or the private lives of persons concerned in legal proceedings, preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, maintaining the authority and independence of the courts, regulating educational institutions in the interests of persons receiving instruction therein, or regulating the technical administration or the technical operation of telephony, telegraphy, posts, wireless broadcasting, television or other means of communication...."

References:

1981 Constitution of Belize: https://pdba.georgetown.edu/Constitutions/Belize/belize81.html

Article 7, Section 5 of Bhutan’s 2008 Constitution protects freedom of the press: “There shall be freedom of the press, radio and television and other forms of dissemination of information, including electronic” (Constitute Project, “Bhutan's Constitution of 2008” ).

References:

Bhutan 2008 Constitution: https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Bhutan_2008

In the aftermath of the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Imperial Government wrote a constitution for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The relationship between the two political entities was described in Section 1 of the 1910 Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina: "Bosnia and the Herzegovina constitute a separate and homogeneous administrative territory, which, in conformity with the Law of the 22nd February, 1880 ... is subject to the responsible administration and control of the Imperial and Royal Joint Ministry." According to Section 12 of the 1910 Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, "The right to express his opinion freely, verbally, in writing, print, or illustration is granted to every individual, without prejudice to the legal regulations dealing with the abuse of this right. The censorship of the press is, and remains, abolished."

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 2009 Constitution protects freedom of expression in general, but does not mention freedom of the press specifically. However, Article 4 of the 2002 Law on Communications recognizes freedom of expression across broadcasting and telecommunications (Office of the High Representative, “Law on Communications of Bosnia and Herzegovina”).

References:

1910 Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina: British and Foreign State Papers (1912) https://heinonline-org.proxygw.wrlc.org/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/bfsprs0105&id=549&men_tab=srchresults#

“Bosnia and Herzegovina 1995 (Rev. 2009) Constitution.” Constitute. Accessed September 14, 2022. https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Bosnia_Herzegovina_2009?lang=en.

Office of the High Representative, “Law on Communications of Bosnia and Herzegovina”: https://www.ohr.int/ohr-dept/legal/laws-of-bih/pdf/011%20-%20PUBLIC%20INFORMATION/RTV-Communications/BH/HR%20DECISION%20ENACTING%20THE%20LAW%20ON%20COMMUNICATIONS%20OF%20BH%2052-02.pdf