Overview
Samoan Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Polataivao Fosi Schmidt has proposed a review of the country's religious freedom laws, citing a desire to prevent religious divisions. This initiative has raised concerns among Samoa's non-Christian minority communities and political observers.
Proposed Changes and Actions
- Prime Minister Schmidt stated his intent to consider amending the constitution regarding freedom of religion, potentially through a referendum or national discussion.
- He has requested advice from the Samoa Council of Churches on the nation's religious freedom laws.
- Since his election, the government has mandated weekly fasting and prayer for public servants.
- Samoa also announced plans to open an embassy in Jerusalem and implemented a ban on construction work on Sundays.
- The Prime Minister linked the proposed changes to conflicts in other regions, including the Middle East, emphasizing the need for national unity under a singular religious belief.
Context and Concerns
- Samoa is an overwhelmingly Christian nation with an estimated 200 Muslims among its 220,000 residents, alongside other minority faiths like Baha'i.
- Imam Husam-Aldin Stanley of Samoa's Muslim community expressed apprehension about the government's announcements, noting the minority's limited power to speak up.
- Experts such as journalist Dr. Cherelle Jackson describe the Prime Minister's approach as "very radical" and rooted in a religious perspective, raising questions about religious freedom in a democratic government.
- Dr. Iati Iati, an expert in Samoan politics, noted that despite diverse beliefs, Samoans have historically united through traditions and culture, without significant conflict between Christian and non-Christian groups.
- The Pew Research Center highlighted Samoa's increasing favor of Christianity in policy, including mandatory Christian instruction in public primary schools since 2011 and a 2017 constitutional amendment declaring it a Christian nation. However, the constitution still guarantees freedom of religion.
Political and Legal Perspectives
- Opposition leader Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, who oversaw the 2017 constitutional change, believes a ban on non-Christian faiths would not pass due to the government's lack of a two-thirds parliamentary majority required for constitutional amendments.
- Bal Kama, a lawyer specializing in Pacific affairs, advocated for broader consultation involving women's groups, professionals, and young people, rather than solely relying on church leaders, stressing that domestic reforms should be based on domestic context.
- Observers indicate that while religion and politics have always been intertwined in Samoa, the current proposals push the relationship between church and state further than before, prompting a national discussion on the appropriate balance.