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422 The Iraqi Government Ministry of Interior Secret Intelligence Division 1958 File Number: 53 / 217 Title: Newspapers and Printing Presses Subject: Draft Law of Printing Presses. ⟦signature⟧
IJA 3254
Ministry of Interior Memos, Establishment of Printing Presses
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These are archival materials from the Iraqi government. Included are memos and documents from the Ministry of Interior regarding new laws concerning the establishment of printing presses; details of the new laws and its justifications are included.
AI en Translation, Pages 1-25
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21/52 (Regulation of the Printing Press Law) - On Conditions and Duties - Article 1 - It is not permissible to establish a printing press except with a permit from the Minister of the Interior. Article 2 - The owner of the printing press is required to be: A- Over twenty-one years of age. B- Of good conduct. C- Not convicted of a non-political felony or a misdemeanor involving dishonor. D- In possession of a primary school certificate. Article 3 - 1- An applicant for establishing a printing press must submit to the Ministry of Interior a statement mentioning his name, surname, his place of residence, the names of his partners and their places of residence, the languages in which he will print, as well as the type of machine, its size, its location, the names of his workers and typesetters, their ages, and their places of residence, ⟦provided that⟧ there is attached to the statement a certificate of good conduct for the workers and typesetters from the competent authority. 2- If any change occurs in the information contained in the aforementioned statement in the previous paragraph, the Ministry of Interior must be notified immediately and its approval obtained. Article 4 - 1- If the owner of the printing press dies, the heirs or their guardian, if they are minors, must submit the statement mentioned in Article 3 within one month from the date of death. 2- The printing press shall be registered in the name of the heirs who meet the conditions stipulated in Article 2. If none among them meets these conditions, they must transfer ownership of the printing press to someone who meets the aforementioned conditions, and it is not permissible to operate the printing press until it is registered in the name of the heirs or until its ownership is transferred in accordance with this paragraph. Article 5 - The owner of the printing press must stop its operation when a change in its ownership occurs, and it shall not be operated again until after the submission of the statement by the new owner and the approval of the Minister of Interior to register the printing press in his name. Article 6 - 1- It is not permissible for a foreigner to establish <del>the printing press</del> a printing press except with a permit from the Minister of Interior, and it is required of him To be continued (( 2 ))
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217 / 52 _ (( 2 )) _ In addition to the other conditions contained in this law, the following: - a - To be a national of a friendly country. b - To provide a document from his country's political or consular representative proving that his country allows Iraqis to establish printing presses in its territory. 2 - The foreigner must provide a document from his country's political or consular representative proving the fulfillment of the conditions of Article Two therein. Article Seven - 1 - It is not permitted to print books and non-periodic publications containing political matters except after the approval of the Ministry of Interior. 2 - It is not permitted to print laws, regulations, and instructions except after the approval of the Ministry of Justice. 3 - It is not permitted to print the Holy Qurans, Quranic parts, and Prophetic Hadiths except after the approval of the Directorate of General Endowments. Article Eight - 1 - The owner of the printing press must provide both the Ministry of Interior and the Public Prosecution with two copies of the books and non-periodic publications that he prints, before distributing them or offering them for sale. 2 - The owner of the printing press must mention the name of the printing press on everything printed therein. - On Penalties - Article Nine - 1 - The owner of the printing press shall be punished with a fine not exceeding fifty dinars or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding one month or both penalties if he violates the provisions contained in this law. 2 - The Minister of Interior may confiscate books and publications printed in violation of the provision of paragraph one of Article Seven. - General Provisions - Article Ten - The Public Prosecutor shall initiate lawsuits arising from the violation of the provisions of this law based on a request from the Ministry of Interior. Article Eleven - The Ottoman Printing Presses Law issued on 11 Rajab 1327 AH is repealed. Article Twelve - This law shall be effective from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. Article Thirteen - The Ministers of Interior and Justice must implement the provisions of this law.
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22 / 154 Ministry of the Interior Directorate of Guidance and General Broadcasting Arabic Publications Baghdad Number 92 Date 2 / 3 / 1958 (( Confidential )) Ministry of the Interior Secret Intelligence Department Number 1224 Date 24 / 3 / 58 Ministry of the Interior Subject / - Draft Printing Press Law. Attached With reference to your letter number Q. S. / 541 dated 9 / 3 / 1958 The first paragraph of Article Nine of the draft law under discussion has stipulated a general penalty for all violations of the provisions contained therein, and it is clear that whoever establishes a printing press without a license has violated the provision contained in the first article of the draft and consequently is liable to the penalty mentioned in the first paragraph of Article Nine mentioned above. In addition to that, Article (88) of the Baghdad Penal Code has explicitly punished the establishment and operation of a printing press without a license. From this we see that there are two articles punishing the establishment of a printing press without a license, the first is included in the body of the draft and the second in the Penal Code, and it is not accurate in codification to set a third article for this purpose. Staff Brigadier Muhsin Muhammad Ali Acting Director of Guidance and General Broadcasting 203 The subject has become within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Information and Guidance, so please file the case 5 / 22 Filed 28 Abdul Wahhab / 23 202 Q 2124 Department Copy
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Iraq Ministry of Interior Baghdad Directorate of Legal Affairs Number: Q/Sh/541 Date: 8/2/1958 9 Secret Office Copy Directorate of General Guidance and Broadcasting Subject - Printing Presses Law Draft. With reference to your secret letter numbered 395 and dated 12/22/1957 Upon reviewing the draft of the Printing Presses Law under discussion, it was noted that it must include an article providing for a deterrent penalty for anyone who establishes a printing press without a license, similar to Article 3 of the current law. We therefore request that you provide us with the text of the article you propose so that we may take the necessary action regarding the matter. ⟦signature⟧ Minister of Interior M ⟦signature⟧ 2/9 Saleh 3/8