Countries With A Theocratic Government Today

These recognized sovereign states are ruled by people and/or laws considered to
have divine authority.
Countries With A Theocratic Government Today
Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran, is the country's leading political and rel
igious figure.
7. Afghanistan
Afghanistan is an Islamic state with a theocratic government. Here, Islam is the
official religion of the country, with the major foundations of the political i
nstitution of Afghanistan being based on Islamic sharia law. The ultimate aim of
the country s fundamentalist regime is to unify the Afghani people under a common
religious law. Political control lies almost exclusively in the hands of the re
ligious leaders of the fundamentalist regime.
6. Iran
The Islamic Republic of Iran is a revolutionary theocratic state. Here, the cons
titution denotes that the ruler of the state is best qualified to interpret Isla
m and ensure that the people of the state strictly adhere to the principles of t
he Shia Islamic religious practices. Prior to the formation of the Islamic Repub
lic of Iran, the country was ruled by the Shah (monarch), Muhammad Reza Pahlavi,
who was well-known for his secular attitudes. In 1979, following a revolution,
the Shah was overthrown from his position by the Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomei
ni. As the leader of the revolution, Khomeini then became the leader of Iran s new
Islamic State. He implemented an orthodox rule in the country based on traditio
nal Islamic beliefs. Today, that role is held by Ali Khamenei.
5. Mauritania
Mauritania, a small country in the Maghreb region of western North Africa, is an
Islamic republic with a theocratic government. The legal system of the country
is based on sharia law, and most of its national symbols, including the national
flag, symbolize Islam. Before 1960, Mauritania did not exist as a separate poli
tical entity, but emerged as one after its creation following the departure of t
he Colonial French government. Mauritania came into existences in association wi
th tradityional Arab-Berber theocratic practices. Even though in its initial day
s the country had a Western-styled government structure and a relatively liberal
disposition, situations changed in the 1980s. At that time, Colonel Mohammed Kh
ouna Ould Heydallah, the military head of the country, enhanced the country s orie
ntation towards sharia law, with the introduction of strict Islamic jurisprudenc
e governing the country.
4. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, an Islamic theocratic monarchy, has one of the most tightly contro
lled governments in the world. The country is also home to two of Islam s most hol
y sites, the cities of Mecca and Medina. Since 1932, the land has been ruled exc
lusively by the House of Saud, and the legislation of this country is firmly roo
ted in sharia law. The Holy Quran and the Sunni School of Islam even serve as th
e country s constitution. Although law does not directly forbid other religions to
be practiced in the country, in real situational practice, the practice of reli
gions other than Islam is abhorred by the Saudis' Islamic-dominant society. Anyo
ne in the country caught in an attempt to insult Islam or promoting any other fa
ith there is subjected to strict punishment, which may go as far as death.
3. Sudan

In Sudan, the theocratic rule of the Sudanese Government, and the establishment
of a legal system based on Islamic laws, are primarily used as tools by the coun
try s leaders to manipulate and conform the Muslim population of the country, whic
h forms about 97% of the total population. Even though the constitution of the c
ountry mentions the sharia-derived laws, it also leaves space for a more liberal
attitude towards people of other beliefs than Islam. This allows the Government
punish anyone when deemed necessary as per the dictates of the sharia law, whil
e at the same time protecting itself from allegations of religious intolerance.
2. Vatican
Though all the other discussed countries are ruled in some form by a theocratic
Islamic Government, the Vatican City is the only country in the world with an ab
solute theocratic elective monarchy that is guided by the principles of a Christ
ian religious school of thought. The Pope is the supreme power in the country, a
nd leads the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Vatican govern
ment. This is also perhaps the only monarchy in the world that is non-hereditary
in nature.
1. Yemen
Yemen, like most of the other mentioned countries, is also based on theocratic g
overnance with Islamic sharia law dictating the executive, legislativ, and judic
ial branches of the government. Recently, Yemen has also been going through a pe
riod of intense political turmoil, wherein conflicts between several different p
olitical groups have led to a civil war type of situation in the country. The ma
in forces in the fight involve the Zaidi Shia rebels (or Houthis) against the lo
yalists of the displaced President of Yemen, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.