In addition, Iran has a parliament that passes laws similar to those of other democracies. However, once passed by parliament, laws are reviewed by the Guardian Council, a group of theologians appointed by the Supreme Leader. Although Iran`s form of government has some characteristics of a democracy, it is generally considered a theocracy because of the Supreme Leader`s ultimate ideological control. Sudan In Sudan, the theocratic regime of the Sudanese government and the establishment of a legal system based on Islamic laws are mainly used by the country`s rulers as tools to manipulate and adapt the country`s Muslim population, which makes up about 97% of the total population. Although the country`s constitution mentions laws derived from Sharia law, it also leaves room for a more liberal stance towards people of religions other than Islam. This allows the government to punish anyone if deemed necessary under Sharia law, while protecting itself from accusations of religious intolerance. Although all the other countries discussed are governed in one form or another by a theocratic Islamic government, Vatican City is the only country in the world with an absolute elective theocratic monarchy based on the principles of a school of Christian religious thought. The pope is the country`s highest power and heads the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the Vatican government. It is also perhaps the only monarchy in the world that is not hereditary.
Yemen, like most of the other countries mentioned, is also based on theocratic governance with Islamic Sharia, which dictates the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. Recently, Yemen has also gone through a period of intense political turmoil, during which conflicts between different political groups have led to a situation of civil war in the country. The main forces in the fight are the Zaydi Shiite (or Houthi) rebels against loyalists of Yemen`s ousted president, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. The main characteristic of theocracy is that the state understands itself as ultimately ruled by God, and as such, the entire political system is designed to reflect God`s supremacy and divine teaching or revelation about other sources of political wisdom and knowledge. Iran has been described by the CIA World Factbook as a “theocratic republic,”[31] and its constitution has been described by Francis Fukuyama as a “hybrid” of “theocratic and democratic elements.” [32] Like other Islamic states, it maintains religious laws and has religious courts to interpret all aspects of the law. According to the Iranian constitution, “all civil, criminal, financial, economic, administrative, cultural, military, political and other laws and regulations must be based on Islamic criteria.” [33] A good example of a theocracy is one in which the ruler – usually a king or emperor – is considered divine or descended from gods. This was the case in ancient Egypt and also in Japan until the 20th century. Other examples of theocracies include Iran after the Isemian revolution and Afghanistan under the Taliban, as well as Vatican City. The separation of religious organizations and government is an essential feature of many representative democracies. In a theocracy, the opposite is true.
The church or religious establishment of the dominant religious group in the country is closely linked to the State. Political leaders can be active both as politicians and as religious clerics, and political leaders derive their legitimacy from the religious establishment. Well, in ancient times there were a lot of theocracies. But over time, many failed and were abandoned. Some of the countries that the theocratic government once ruled are; Japan, China, ancient Egypt, Tibet and Israel. Colonel Mohammed Khouna was responsible for the country`s transition to Sharia-based governance. The country is home to the city of Mecca and Medina. Both cities are the holiest Islamic cities. Since the early 1930s, the country has been ruled by the House of Saud.
Afghanistan is one of the most outstanding examples of theocracy in the world. Islam is the official religion of the country and the main foundations of political institutions are based on Islamic Sharia. The ultimate goal of the country`s fundamentalist regime is to unite the Afghan people under a common religious law. Political power is almost exclusively in the hands of the regime`s religious leaders. Theocracy is distinct from other secular forms of government that have a state religion or are influenced by theological or moral concepts, and monarchies that are held “by the grace of God.” In the most common use of the term, some civil rulers are rulers of the dominant religion (e.g., the Byzantine emperor as patron and defender of the official church); The government proclaims that it governs in the name of God or a higher power, as prescribed by the local religion, and with the divine approval of the institutions and laws of the state. These characteristics also apply to a cesaropathist diet. However, the Byzantine Empire was not theocratic, since the patriarch answered to the emperor, and not the other way around; Similarly, in Tudor England, the Crown forced the Church to secede from Rome so that the royal (and especially later parliamentary) power could take full control of the now Anglican hierarchy and confiscate most of the Church`s property and revenue. The Holy See in Vatican City is also technically a theocratic government. As a sovereign state and home to nearly 1,000 citizens, the Holy See is governed by the Catholic Church and represented by the Pope and his bishop. All government positions and offices are occupied by the clergy. A theocratic government rules Iran.
The leader must have a solid understanding of the Islamic religion. It should also ensure that people live and adhere to Islamic principles. The Sumerian cities of the Uruk period were probably theocratic and were most likely ruled by a priest-king (ensi) supported by a council of elders comprising both men and women. [48] Theocracy is a form of government in which one or more deities of one kind or another are recognized as the supreme ruling authority, giving divine direction to human intermediaries who administer the day-to-day affairs of government. [2] [3] [4] [5] He was also a religious leader and ruled the country on the basis of religious laws. Ancient Egypt was therefore a theocracy. The country has been suffering from political turmoil for some time. The differences between the main political regimes led to a civil war in the country. So you must have asked yourself which countries practice theocracy? Although all the other countries discussed are governed in one form or another by a theocratic Islamic government, Vatican City is the only country in the world with an absolute elective theocratic monarchy based on the principles of a school of Christian religious thought. The pope is the country`s highest power and heads the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the Vatican government. It is also perhaps the only monarchy in the world that is not hereditary.
The wave of time has led some countries to change their theocratic mode of government. But some have remained the same. In these countries, the religious roots are deeply rooted in their faith.