This Country Profile provides a basic overview of the legal history and institutional structures of the Republic of Mauritius, based on research produced by the Library of Congress. Under Mauritius' Constitution, Islamic law (sharīʿa or fiqh) has some legal status.
Country Background
Mauritius is an island country located in Southern Africa. It is in the Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Madagascar. The capital of Mauritius is Port Louis. While there is no official language mentioned in the Constitution of Mauritius, the languages of government administration are English and French. However, the most commonly spoken language in Mauritius is Creole. The country's population in 2017 was approximately 1.4 million. Mauritius is a multi-religious country, with about 49% of the population Hindu, 33% Christian, and 17% Muslim.
Constitution & Legal Structure
Mauritius is referred to as a parliamentary republic, in which sovereignty belongs to the people and the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. The current Constitution of Mauritius was adopted in 1968, and was most recently amended in 2011. The system of government is based on principles of separation and checks and balances and has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legal system of Mauritius is a civil legal system based on French civil law with some elements of English common law.
Constitutional Status of Islamic Law
Islamic law has some legal status in Mauritius. However, it is used only in matters of personal status (officially called Muslim Personal Laws) and is applicable to Mauritius' Muslim population only.
Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law
Islamic law has official jurisdiction of operation in Mauritius. Islamic law applies in personal status issues (such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and child custody) for Muslims living in Mauritius.
Dominant School of Islamic Law
Mauritius has no official school of Islamic law. The majority of the Muslim population in the country is Sunnī (adhering to the Ḥanafī school).
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. 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].