Freedom of the Press/History/Country sources/Iran
What is the oldest written source in this country that mentions this right?
Iran
Freedom of expression and, by extension, freedom of the press was protected under Article 20 of the “Rights of the Persian Nation” section of the 1906 Iranian Constitution: “All publications, except heretical books and matters hurtful to the perspicuous religion [of Islám] are free, and are exempt from the censorship. If, however, anything should be discovered in them contrary to the Press law, the publisher or writer is liable to punishment according to that law. If the writer be known, and be resident in Persia, then the publisher, printer and distributor shall not be liable to prosecution” (Wikisource, “Iran Constitution of 1906” ).
Today, Article 24 of the 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 1979 with Amendments through 1989” ).