This Country Profile provides a basic overview of the legal history and institutional structures of the Solomon Islands, based on research produced by the Library of Congress. Under the Solomon Islands' Constitution, Islamic law (sharīʿa or fiqh) has no legal status.
Country Background
The Solomon Islands is a group of islands in Oceania. It is located in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea. The capital of the Solomon Islands is Honiara. The official languages are English and Melanesian pidgin. Over 120 indigenous languages are also spoken. The country's population in 2017 was approximately 647,581 people. The Solomon Islands is a predominantly Christian country, with about 96% of the population Christian.
Constitution & Legal Structure
The Solomon Islands gained independence from Great Britain in 1976. The Solomon Islands is referred to as a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy, in which sovereignty belongs to the people and the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. The current Constitution of the Solomon Islands was adopted in 1978, and was most recently amended in 2009. 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 the Solomon Islands is a mixed legal system based on English common law and customary law.
Constitutional Status of Islamic Law
Islamic law has no constitutional status in the Solomon Islands.
Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law
Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in the Solomon Islands.
Dominant School of Islamic Law
The Solomon Islands does not have an 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. The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English. 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].