This Country Profile provides a basic overview of the legal history and institutional structures of the Republic of Cuba (República de Cuba), based on research produced by GlobaLex at NYU Law School and the Library of Congress. Under Cuba’s Constitution, Islamic law (sharīʿa or fiqh) has no legal status.
Country Background
Cuba is an island nation between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. The capital of Cuba is Havana. The official language is Spanish. The country’s population in 2016 was approximately 11 million. Cuba is a predominantly Christian country, with about 85% of the population Roman Catholic.
Constitution & Legal Structure
Cuba is referred to as a communist state. Under the Cuban Constitution of 1976, legislative power rests with the unicameral National Assembly of People's Power. The system of government is civil law based on the Spanish civil code. The are three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial.
Constitutional Status of Islamic Law
Islamic law has no constitutional status in Cuba.
Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law
Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in Cuba.
Dominant School of Islamic Law
Cuba 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 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].