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Sierra Leone’s proposed “Abortion Bill” and matters arising

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The image shows one of DUBAWA’s sources, Sarah Turay, discussing the SMRH/ ‘safe & legal’ Abortion bill 2025 at their residence in Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital. Image Source: DUBAWA / Researcher: Fayia J. Moseray 

Sierra Leone’s proposed Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health (SMRH) bill, which has been laid before the country’s House of Representatives (known as the Well of Parliament), has attracted a fierce debate between the ‘moralists’ in the society and those in support of legalising abortion.

The country’s religious community, on one hand, and the citizens, on another, are up in arms against what they describe as an evil bill, a situation which has necessitated broader consultation with the government through its Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE)

The abortion bill may have implications for maternal and infant mortality in Sierra Leone.  A casual desktop research on ‘maternal mortality’ indicates that Sierra Leone is among the countries with the worst maternal mortality rate in the world.

The country experienced a dropdown in the number of maternal deaths in 2022, with the lowest-ever number of 76 deaths out of  1,000 live births in the small West African nation. Worse still, there was a significant surge from 717 deaths out of 100,000 live births—from previous ratings, while the pregnancy mortality ratio in 2019 recorded 719 deaths out of every 100,000 pregnancies in the country.

Also, Visual Capitalist, in its recent health rating on Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), rated Sierra Leone fifth among the worst African countries—with 72.3 per cent—below its Liberian neighbour, who occupied the 13th worst position with 56.1 percent in 2023.

The call to legalise abortion by the government, which is part of the proposed bill, will grant medical professionals the right to conduct abortion in a much safer environment. But that has triggered varying opinions from institutions, citizens, religious leaders, and the government.

Thus, DUBAWA’s researcher in Freetown decided to find out from citizens about the impact the bill would have on the society as a whole, including—the victims: girls/women, ordinary citizens, the interreligious body, religious leaders, gender experts, and the government. For a country with a religious population constituting 98.9 per cent of the total population—according to the Pew Research Center in the United States of America, such a bill will undoubtedly engage the minds of many.

What’s the Safe Motherhood & Reproductive Health or Safe & Legal Abortion bill about?  

The Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health – SMRH (commonly called ‘Abortion Bill’), as its name implies, is essentially a law that has been proposed by the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), led government of  Rtd., Brigadier Julius Maada Wonnie Bio, in the bid to provide, as well as grant Sierra Leonean women and girls the ‘absolute’ right to make decisions regarding abortion in the law books of the small West African nation.

Citizens’ perspectives about the ‘abortion bill’ 

Sarah Turay, 27–a mother of one in Freetown, told DUBAWA that the issue of abortion is a very complex issue to deal with generally. She added that, amidst the huge side effects that come with committing abortion by girls and women, a good number of these women do so as a result of unforeseen circumstances. 

She, however, admonished victims, including—girls, women, boys, and men—who are not ready to champion the responsibilities of a child, to either engage in safe sex or, better still, abstain from sex until the right time comes. 

A fuel pump attendant in Sierra Leone informed DUBAWA that safe and legal abortion should be accepted in society, noting that he strongly supports the bill to be passed into law. He added that with such a law, girls and women who are considered the most vulnerable people in society will be granted the opportunity to make decisions to either ‘keep’ or ‘abort’ the foetus. 

When asked his reason for supporting the bill as a man, Amadu S. Koroma explained to DUBAWA that due to the irresponsible nature of some men or boys who are unable to take good care of their spouse’s pregnancies and, by extension, the child, it is better to save the woman and child from the many challenges they are likely to face. 

Saffiatu Bah, a local nurse and petty trader in Freetown, does not support the bill. She said to ‘legalise abortion’ then, the government should also consider ‘legalising drugs.’

“For me, allowing the said bill to become law in the country will not in any way avert the damning consequences that accompany the ‘evil’ act of abortion. Instead, the approval of the said bill as a law will provide both women and girls the opportunity to engage in ‘frequent unsafe’ sexual activities without fear of getting pregnant since there’s a so-called safe and legal abortion law,” she stated strongly.

A Gender expert, Mohamed Nasiru Bawor, who graduated from Fourah Bay College (FBC), told DUBAWA the bill is an absolute necessity for the people of Sierra Leone. 

He indicated that the government should go on to pass the bill into law, adding that, whether it is passed into law or not, people would continue to abort unwanted pregnancies illegally and unsafely.

Asked about the impact the law will have on women and girls, Bawor noted that passing the bill into law would help to avert the huge number of unsafe and illegal abortions going on at different places, including—homes and some mushroom clinics and hospitals.

So, what are the religious perspectives on abortion? 

The Sierra Leone Interreligious Council (SLIC), composed of Christian and Muslim leaders, has been vocal in this debate. As a body of religious leaders in the country, the council is convinced that entertaining abortion is a sinful action to the Almighty God/Allah. 

A press release signed by the interreligious council stated that such a law is unsuitable for the country’s religious status. The body said whether ‘safe’ or ‘unsafe,’ abortion is an act in itself and is not acceptable in the eyes of God or Allah. 

Buttressing the point made by the interreligious council, Pastor Umaro Koroma confidently referred to the bill as an evil bill in an interview with DUBAWA. He added that the government should not consider passing such a heinous law. 

He indicated further that there is nothing like ‘safe’ abortion anywhere in the world when there is the ‘killing’ of a soul or unborn child formed by God into the womb of the woman.

Are there grounds for abortion in Islam? — DUBAWA asked Sheikh Gibril Bangura

In his response, the sheikh confidently stated that in as much as the act of committing abortion is tagged as ‘haram’ meaning ‘unacceptable’ in Islam, the holy book in the Glorious Quran Al-An’am 6:151, states thus: “…And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed] except for legal rights. This has He instructed you that you may use reason.” 

He said the recommended conditions under which abortion will be permitted in Islam are highlighted. “When the pregnancy is under 120 days old and either of the below-mentioned situations arises, and the abortion is approved by a professional medical practitioner—owing to the simple fact that Islam is a religion that does not believe in miracles. 

“Hence, the below are the grounds for indulging in abortion in Islam: 

  • when the mother’s womb could not carry the child up to delivery, and 
  • when the mother and the unborn child’s lives are at risk,
  • when the mother’s life is in danger if the pregnancy is kept to a certain point in time” — 

Sheik Gibril Bangura revealed,

Government’s reaction

The Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE), headed by Chernor Bah as minister, has reacted to the concerns flagged by citizens and the country’s interreligious body. 

Minister C. Bah urged religious groups to consider the bill’s positive aspects despite their grievances. He said the bill would be in the country’s best interest, girls and women. 

What would the government and the state benefit if the proposed abortion bill is not passed into law? 

Both pastor Koroma and sheik Kamara said absolute hope and blessings await the people of Sierra Leone if the government stands down on this bill. On the contrary, they are convinced the country will attract a ‘curse’ from God/Allah if the politicians fail to heed the concerns raised by citizens.  

“But, if the government acts adamant or, better still, chooses to abandon the frank advice and possible recommendations that the religious council and leaders would proffer, then the government should brace up for God’s wrath on the country because abortion in whatever form, is not acceptable in the two popular religions in the country,” they noted. 

Conclusion

With the government poised to pass the bill into law, it requires superior negotiation skills to carry the citizens, especially religious organisations, with them.

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