Surrogate parents likened to sex offenders by Italy's minister Angelino Alfano

Surrogate parents should be treated as sex offenders and sent to prison, said Italy’s interior minister, escalating his opposition to plans to give gay and unmarried heterosexual couples legal recognition.

Italy is the last major country in the West that has not given same-sex couples rights or protection on issues such as parenthood.

It was condemned last year by the European Court of Human Rights for failing to legislate on the matter.