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The Sierra Leone government has held a meeting with the Inter-religious Council on the Safe Motherhood and Reproduction Rights Bill (Abortion Bill).
The engagement, which took place at the Parliament building on Tower Hill in Freetown, attracted religious clerics from both Islam and Christianity including Pastor Francis Mambu and Sheikh Abubakarr Conteh last week.
The Minister Information and Civic Education, Chernoh Bah said the engagement is a product of deep admiration and respect the government has for the Council.
“We have agreed with you and plead with you now for us to find common ground,” the Information minister said.
Speaking from a health background, Health Minister II Jalikatu Mustapha highlighted the government’s commitment to working with the group for the Bill.
She said that they intend to work with the council to come out with an agreeable document.
“We want to come out today on agreement with a document,” she said. “The key issue is for the replacement of abortion with termination of pregnancy under exceptional circumstances.”
The Health Minister II proposed to the Council that abortion will be accepted in tremendous circumstances including when the life of the mother is at risk, in instances of rape and incest and in instances of foetal malfunction incompatible with life.
President of the Interreligious Council, Archbishop Edward Tamba expressed his appreciation for the government. “We thank the government for taking onboard some of our suggestions and willingness to make changes to reflect the religious sensibility of Sierra Leone.”
Pastor Francis Mambu, Founder and General Overseer of the Faith Healing Bible Church showed admiration for the government in organising the dialogue. “With what we have heard and seen today, I believe the President is a listening government and I know that there is something positive that is going to come out of this Bill that is going to benefit not only this generation but generations yet unborn.”
Sheikh Barrie expressed gratitude to the government and requested that the Council be allocated time to review the revised position paper, allowing them to provide input where necessary.
The Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Rights Bill has generated significant debate across the country, creating a divide between supporters and opponents. Advocates of the Bill argue that it is essential for ensuring adequate medical care for pregnant women. They also emphasize that the legislation aims to prevent unqualified individuals from performing illegal abortions, which can pose serious health risks and even result in fatalities.
Opponents of the Bill argue from a moral and religious perspective, contending that it contradicts the cultural values of Sierra Leone. They argue that the Bill undermines the fundamental right to life, which they consider important for any society.
Meanwhile, President Julius Maada Bio who has been silent on the debate hinted in his New Year’s Eve Speech when that he is pro-life by stating that all Sierra Leoneans are equal and have the right to life.
Abdulai jorgor
Please please interreligiouscouncil don’t even think of it approval by using sugarcoated word’s, abortion has been happening were the life of the mother is in danger and incest were relative impregnated the same sister aunty mother, in that case it is permissible to do an abortion but passing such bill in to law opening the door for abortion is totally out of our religious and cultural values, I instead advice the government to be more in preaching prevention than abortion, I rest my case.
Allah Akbar we shall surely die and meet our creator
This is a senseless and murder Bill
So killing is now ligal
And the religious council accepted this, shame on you weather you have been paid or not shame on you
These is why most of us keeping say that we do not believing in this so call Religious leaders if this Bill is pass to law God will Judge you and your Family member as for our members of parliament if you are representing this nation well it will tell on your children and family members
To accept abortion bill is like the abolition of death penalty done by the same government that is causing problems on us today you see foreigners kill our Brothers and sisters in this country with no action take against them, so abortion bill is risk for this nation on account to accept it
The hidden agenda behind the abortion bill is what we are looking at not what is facing us now, the bill was not there abortion were taken place if we allow it the bill will have no control to limit certain people everybody will be doing it welther sick or no sick. Please government the respect of the nation it paramount this bill will degrade the respect of this nation.