1. Freedom of expression is seen as one of the essential foundations of a democratic society,849 and is protected by many international and regional human rights treaties including Article 19 ICCPR and Article 32 of the Arab Charter.850 The Inter-American Court has held that public order requires ‘the guarantee of the widest possible circulation of news, ideas and opinions, as well as the widest access to information by society as a whole’.851 2. The main elements of freedom expression as guaranteed by international human rights law, include:    Freedom to seek information and ideas; Freedom to receive information and ideas; and Freedom to impart information and ideas. 3. This freedom can be enjoyed orally, in writing, in print, in images, dress, banners, posters, audio-visual means,852 art,853 or through any other media and is applied regardless of frontiers.854 4. The expression of every type of opinion or idea is covered, from political expression,855 to journalism,856 commercial speech,857 and artistic expression,858 as well as comments on public affairs,859 and teaching,860 among others. However, not all forms of expression, as will be seen below, are accorded the same protection. 5. Freedom of opinion cannot be derogated from861 and the right to hold opinions without interference cannot be limited.862 Criminalisation of the holding of an opinion will violate Article 9(1) of the ICCPR863 and forcing individuals to hold or not to hold a particular opinion is also prohibited.864 849 General Assembly Resolution 59/201. See also European Court, Handyside v UK, 7 December 1976; Sunday Times v UK, 26 April 1979. Human Rights Committee, Communication 628/1995, Tae Hoon Park v Republic of Korea, 20 October 1998, para 10.3. 850 See also Article 19 UDHR, Article 9 ACHPR, Article 13 ACHR, Article 5 ICERD, Articles 12 and 13 UNCRC, Article 10 ECHR; Article 19 Palestinian Basic Law. 851 Ivcher Bronstein Case v Peru, 6 Feb 2001, Series C, No.74, para 151. 852 E.g. Communication 1009/2001, Shchetoko et al v Belarus, 11 July 2006; Communication 412/1990, Kivenmaa v Finland, 31 March 2004. 853 Communication 926/2000, Shin v Republic of Korea. European Court, Muller and others v Switzerland, 24 May 1988. 854 Article 19(2) ICCPR. 855 Human Rights Committee, Communication 414/1990, Mika Miha v Equatorial Guinea, 8 July 1994, at para 6.8. 856 Communication 1353/2005, Philip Afuson Njaru v Cameroon, CCPR/C/89//D/1353/2005 (2007). 857 Communications 359/1989, Ballantyne, Davidson, McIntyre v Canada, CCPR/C/47/D/359/1989 (1993). European Court, Markt Intern Verlag GmbH v Germany, 20 November 1989. 858 Communication 962/2000, Hak-Chul Sin v Republic of Korea, CCPR/C/80/D/926/2000 (2004). 859 Communication 1157/2003, Coleman v Australia, 17 July 2006. 860 Communication 736/97, Ross v Canada, 18 October 2000. 861 Human Rights Committee, General Comment No.29, CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.11, para 11. 862 Human Rights Committee, General Comment No.34, CCPR/C/GC/34 (2011), para 9. 863 Human Rights Committee, General Comment No.34, CCPR/C/GC/34 (2011), para 9. Communication 550/93, Faurisson v France, 8 November 1996. 864 Communication 878/1999, Kang v Republic of Korea, 15 July 2003. 139