Samoan Leader Apologizes for ‘Heil Hitler’ Salute at 2007 Family Reunion
The prime minister said the 2007 family gathering video was inappropriate and apologized after 13 people were seen in the clip, according to reports.
- On Monday, Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt apologized after video surfaced showing him saying "Heil Hitler" and performing a Nazi gesture at a 2007 family gathering in Savai.
- The Samoa Observer reported the footage on Sunday, identifying it as a family reunion where Laauli led approximately 13 people in raising their right hands and uttering the phrase.
- Laauli stated the video was never intended for public view and rejected Nazism, asserting "They do not reflect my personal beliefs, nor the values of the Government or people of Samoa."
- The report emerged two days after the government reaffirmed a ban on the Samoa Observer, barring the newspaper from press conferences following allegations it breached media ethics standards.
- German rule in Western Samoa left lasting cultural and architectural imprints, though Laauli maintained the video was inappropriate and stated he considers the matter resolved to focus on economic challenges.
35 Articles
35 Articles
La'auli Leuatea Schmidt, head of government of the independent state located in the western end of Polynesia, apologises for a gesture made 20 years ago, “during a private family meeting”.
The leader apologized for what happened 19 years ago.
The Prime Minister of Samoa shouted "Heil Hitler" and gave a Nazi salute, according to a video recording from 19 years ago that has now been made public. The leader of the Polynesian island nation apologized for the incident on Monday.
Samoan Prime Minister Laauli Leuatea Schmidt apologized after the release of a 2007 video of him raising his hand in a Nazi salute and saying “Heil Hitler”. Schmidt apologized after the local newspaper Samoa Observer published a seven-second clip from the Schmidt family meeting on Savaii Island in July 2007. At that time, he was a member and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Al Jazeera reported. In the video, Schmidt holds a microphone, urging the a…
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