Yes Python seems to be equivalent to Java in this respect. From http://learnpython.pbworks.com/w/page/15956522/Assignment :
But you must be careful about what is meant by "changes to
parameters". Assigning a new value to a parameter name (inside the
function, a parameter is just a local variable) does not change the
original object--it only rebinds the local variable to a new object.
So, Python passes "object references" "by value".
