This Country Profile provides a basic overview of the legal history and institutional structures of the Republic of Honduras (República de Honduras), based on research produced by GlobaLex at NYU Law School and the Library of Congress. Under Honduras' Constitution, Islamic law (sharīʿa or fiqh) has no legal status.
Country Background
Honduras is located in Central America bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean (Gulf of Fonseca). It is bounded by Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. The capital of Honduras is Tegucigalpa. The official language is Spanish. The country’s population in 2016 was approximately 8.9 million. Honduras is a predominantly Christian country.
Constitution & Legal Structure
Honduras is referred to as a presidential republic, in which sovereignty belongs to the people and the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. The system of government is civil law based on principles of separation and checks and balances and has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
Constitutional Status of Islamic Law
Islamic law has no constitutional status in Honduras.
Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law
Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in Honduras.
Dominant School of Islamic Law
Honduras has no official school of Islamic law.
Sources of Law for Legal Research
Official Publications
Unofficial Databases
References:
For an extended list of legal resources for this country, see the Library of Congress’s Research Guide, and for a narrative review, see the GlobaLex Foreign Law Research Guide (most updated version, where available). The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English and Arabic translation. For full versions of past constitutions, amendments, and related legislation, see HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated or Oxford Constitutions of the World [subscription required for each].