1 Sep 2017

Tuilaepa rules out abortion and same sex marriage in Samoa

6:45 am on 1 September 2017
Samoa's PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi

Samoa's PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi Photo: RNZI Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia

Abortion and same sex marriage have been ruled out in Samoa as long as prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and his Human Rights Protection Party remain in power.

Tuilaepa has told his radio audience in Apia that his government would never allow what he calls "heathenistic practices" in Samoa.

Tuilaepa was reacting to a media query about claims that a Ministry of Health report suggested abortion be legalised.

He said under no circumstances would he and his party allow abortion.

The prime minister said Samoa is a Christian country and there are two things that he would never allow to be legalised; one is abortion and the other is same sex marriage.