Defamation of the president and slander of government officials and departments are prohibited by law. Print media are diverse and independent. In July, a controversial press law was passed by parliament and sent to committee for modification. Czech and international press freedom advocates claim the law will put unnecessary financial and disclosure restrictions on Czech publications and journalists. There are 60 private radio stations in addition to Czech public radio.
Freedom of religion is respected.
Issues regarding restitution of church property seized by the Communists remain unresolved. In June 1999, the deadline for property transfers expired and an estimated 150 million to 300 million crowns worth of property remained under the control of individuals and groups affiliated with the former Communist Party. Freedoms of assembly and demonstration are respected, although permits are generally required for rallies. More than 50 political parties have emerged since 1989, but most are small and have no national structures. Most unionized workers belong to the Czech-Moravian Chamber of Trade Unions, which was established in 1990 and includes approximately 35 unions.