Islamic republic is the name given to several states in countries ruled by Islamic laws, including the Islamic Republics of
Pakistan,
Iran,
Afghanistan and
Mauritania. Pakistan first adopted the title under the constitution of 1956. Mauritania adopted it on 28 November 1958. Iran adopted it after the 1979
Iranian Revolution that overthrew the
Pahlavi dynasty. Afghanistan adopted it in 1992 (in 1996-2001 the
Taliban was ruling as an Islamic emirate (monarchy)) upon
Jamiat-e Islami seizing capital
Kabul from the Communists. Despite the similar name the countries differ greatly in their governments and laws.