This Country Profile provides a basic overview of the legal history and institutional structures of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (Grand Duchee de Luxembourgde), based on research produced by GlobaLex at NYU Law School and the Library of Congress. Under Luxembourg’s Constitution, Islamic law (sharīʿa or fiqh) has no legal status.
Country Background
Luxembourg is located in Western Europe and is bounded by France, Germany, and Belgium. The capital of Luxembourg is Luxembourg. The official languages are Luxembourgish, French, and German. The country’s population in 2016 was approximately 528,000 people. Luxembourg is a predominantly Christian country, with about 87% of the population Roman Catholic.
Constitution & Legal Structure
Luxembourg is referred to as a constitutional monarchy, in which the government operates as a parliamentary representative democracy headed by a constitutional monarch (Grand Duke). Executive power is exercised by the Grand Duke and the cabinet, which consists of several other ministers; however, sovereignty resides with the nation. Luxembourg became formally independent under the London Treaty of 1839. The Constitution of 1868 (most recently amended in 2009) organizes a flexible separation of powers based on principles of separation and checks and balances between the executive and the parliament with the judiciary watching over proper execution of laws. Luxembourg is a member state of the European Union, and in fact, the European Court of Justice (the highest court for E.U. law) is located in Luxembourg.
Constitutional Status of Islamic Law
Islamic law has no constitutional status in Luxembourg.
Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law
Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in Luxembourg.
Dominant School of Islamic Law
Luxembourg 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].