Somalia
Religious (Islamic) law is a leading source
Compare Somalia with another country →
In these countries Islamic law (Sharia) is a leading source of law, at least in areas such as family and inheritance. Most of them also have modern civil codes or common-law elements, so the real system is usually a blend. How much religious law applies, and to which subjects, differs a great deal from country to country.
A full profile of Somalia’s legal system is planned. For now, this page shows where Somalia sits on the map.
How this country is classified
The University of Ottawa’s JuriGlobe database lists Somalia as: Muslim, Civil law, Common law, Customary. It names the systems in order of importance.
The map colours a country by the first-named system, and shows both civil-law and common-law countries as “mixed”. It is a simplification, and real systems are rarely pure.
Other countries in the same family
Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, Egypt, Gambia, Iran, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman.
TheLawToKnow Tools’s Legal Families Atlas is an educational overview. It simplifies on purpose, and it is not legal advice. For a real legal question about Somalia, consult a lawyer qualified there. Report a mistake.
