This Country Profile provides a basic overview of the legal history and institutional structures of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay (República Oriental del Uruguay), based on research produced by GlobaLex at NYU Law School and the Library of Congress. Under Uruguay's Constitution, Islamic law (sharīʿa or fiqh) has no legal status.
Country Background
Uruguay is located in Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil. The capital of Uruguay is Montevideo. The official language is Spanish. The country’s population in 2016 was approximately 3.4 million. Uruguay is a predominantly Christian country with 47% Roman Catholic, 11% non-Catholic Christians, and 23% nondenominational.
Constitution & Legal Structure
Uruguay is referred to as a presidential republic. It is a civil law system based on the Spanish legal system. The current Constitution was adopted in 1967 (with amendments in 1989, 1994, 1996, and 2004).
Constitutional Status of Islamic Law
Islamic law has no constitutional status in Uruguay.
Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law
Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in Uruguay.
Dominant School of Islamic Law
Uruguay 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].