WORLD Policy Analysis Center

What is the constitutional status of religious law?

Religious law can prevail over some or all of the constitution means that the constitution has specific provisions allowing religious law to override constitutional provisions, which can include anything from one narrowly defined right to the entirety of the constitution depending on the country.

Religious law is a normative source or legislation cannot contradict religious law means that the constitution explicitly identifies religious law as source of legal/normative power within the country, or clarifies that religious law cannot be contradicted by constitutional provisions.

No specific provision means that the constitution does not mention religious law.

Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme means that the constitution does not mention religious law, but does explicitly say that the constitution is that country’s supreme legal instrument.

Religious law is explicitly subordinate to the constitution means that the constitution explicitly places religious law below the constitution in the country’s legal hierarchy.

Countries

Ethiopia - Religious law can prevail over some or all of the constitution

The Gambia - Religious law can prevail over some or all of the constitution

Iran - Religious law can prevail over some or all of the constitution

Kenya - Religious law can prevail over some or all of the constitution

Malaysia - Religious law can prevail over some or all of the constitution

Maldives - Religious law can prevail over some or all of the constitution

Saudi Arabia - Religious law can prevail over some or all of the constitution

Somalia - Religious law can prevail over some or all of the constitution

Afghanistan - Religious law is a normative source or legislation cannot contradict religious law

Algeria - Religious law is a normative source or legislation cannot contradict religious law

Bahrain - Religious law is a normative source or legislation cannot contradict religious law

Brunei - Religious law is a normative source or legislation cannot contradict religious law

Comoros - Religious law is a normative source or legislation cannot contradict religious law

Egypt - Religious law is a normative source or legislation cannot contradict religious law

Iraq - Religious law is a normative source or legislation cannot contradict religious law

Israel - Religious law is a normative source or legislation cannot contradict religious law

Jordan - Religious law is a normative source or legislation cannot contradict religious law

Kuwait - Religious law is a normative source or legislation cannot contradict religious law

Libya - Religious law is a normative source or legislation cannot contradict religious law

Mauritania - Religious law is a normative source or legislation cannot contradict religious law

Nigeria - Religious law is a normative source or legislation cannot contradict religious law

Oman - Religious law is a normative source or legislation cannot contradict religious law

Pakistan - Religious law is a normative source or legislation cannot contradict religious law

Qatar - Religious law is a normative source or legislation cannot contradict religious law

Syria - Religious law is a normative source or legislation cannot contradict religious law

Tuvalu - Religious law is a normative source or legislation cannot contradict religious law

United Arab Emirates - Religious law is a normative source or legislation cannot contradict religious law

Yemen - Religious law is a normative source or legislation cannot contradict religious law

Austria - No specific provision

Belgium - No specific provision

Bosnia and Herzegovina - No specific provision

Botswana - No specific provision

Brazil - No specific provision

Burkina Faso - No specific provision

Cameroon - No specific provision

Central African Republic - No specific provision

Chile - No specific provision

Democratic Republic of the Congo - No specific provision

Republic of the Congo - No specific provision

Costa Rica - No specific provision

Cote d'Ivoire - No specific provision

Croatia - No specific provision

Czech Republic - No specific provision

Denmark - No specific provision

Djibouti - No specific provision

Equatorial Guinea - No specific provision

Estonia - No specific provision

Finland - No specific provision

France - No specific provision

Gabon - No specific provision

Germany - No specific provision

Greece - No specific provision

Greenland - No specific provision

Guinea - No specific provision

Haiti - No specific provision

Honduras - No specific provision

Iceland - No specific provision

India - No specific provision

Indonesia - No specific provision

Ireland - No specific provision

Italy - No specific provision

Jamaica - No specific provision

Democratic People's Republic of Korea - No specific provision

Republic of Korea - No specific provision

Latvia - No specific provision

Lebanon - No specific provision

Liechtenstein - No specific provision

Lithuania - No specific provision

Luxembourg - No specific provision

North Macedonia - No specific provision

Madagascar - No specific provision

Mali - No specific provision

Malta - No specific provision

Monaco - No specific provision

Mongolia - No specific provision

Montenegro - No specific provision

Morocco - No specific provision

Myanmar - No specific provision

The Netherlands - No specific provision

New Zealand - No specific provision

Norway - No specific provision

Panama - No specific provision

The Philippines - No specific provision

Portugal - No specific provision

San Marino - No specific provision

Sao Tome and Principe - No specific provision

Slovakia - No specific provision

Slovenia - No specific provision

Spain - No specific provision

Sri Lanka - No specific provision

Suriname - No specific provision

Sweden - No specific provision

Switzerland - No specific provision

Tanzania - No specific provision

Timor-Leste - No specific provision

Togo - No specific provision

Tonga - No specific provision

Tunisia - No specific provision

United Kingdom - No specific provision

Uruguay - No specific provision

Albania - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Andorra - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Angola - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Antigua and Barbuda - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Argentina - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Armenia - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Australia - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Azerbaijan - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Bahamas - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Bangladesh - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Barbados - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Belarus - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Belize - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Benin - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Bhutan - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Bolivia - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Bulgaria - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Burundi - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Cambodia - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Canada - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Cabo Verde - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Chad - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

China - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Colombia - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Cuba - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Dominica - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Dominican Republic - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Ecuador - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

El Salvador - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Eritrea - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Fiji - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Georgia - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Ghana - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Grenada - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Guatemala - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Guinea-Bissau - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Guyana - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Hungary - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Japan - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Kazakhstan - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Kiribati - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Kyrgyzstan - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Laos - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Lesotho - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Liberia - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Malawi - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Marshall Islands - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Mauritius - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Mexico - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Micronesia, Federated States of - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Moldova - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Mozambique - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Namibia - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Nauru - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Nepal - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Nicaragua - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Niger - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Palau - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Papua New Guinea - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Paraguay - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Peru - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Poland - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Romania - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Russian Federation - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Rwanda - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Samoa - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Senegal - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Serbia - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Seychelles - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Sierra Leone - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Singapore - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Solomon Islands - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

South Sudan - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

St. Kitts and Nevis - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

St. Lucia - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

St. Vincent and the Grenadines - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Sudan - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Eswatini - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Tajikistan - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Thailand - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Trinidad and Tobago - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Türkiye - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Turkmenistan - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Uganda - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Ukraine - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

United States of America - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Uzbekistan - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Vanuatu - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Venezuela - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Vietnam - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Zambia - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Zimbabwe - Religious law not explicitly addressed, but constitution is supreme

Cyprus - Religious law is explicitly subordinate to the constitution

South Africa - Religious law is explicitly subordinate to the constitution