Changing gender roles and lack of chastity seen as threats to families

As the world grows more complex and technology becomes deeply intertwined in daily life, the foundations of family and human relationships face increasing challenges.

Traditional religious and cultural values, long regarded as pillars of family cohesion and strength, now confront external influences that often clash with these ideals. 

Without preserving the sanctity of the family through religious, spiritual, and indigenous cultural guidance, society risks facing significant challenges.

These concerns were raised during a conference organised by the Cultural Council of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Nairobi. 

The one-day event, held at the Council’s Parklands office, focused on "Chastity, Role, and Importance of Family in the Contemporary World." 

It brought together Islamic and Christian attendees, mainly women, to discuss the significance of chastity and the evolving roles of families today.

Attendees warned that unnatural practices, often imported from the West—such as same-sex relationships—pose a significant threat to families.

Other risks include a decline in chastity, defined as the practice of refraining from extramarital or all sexual activity.

Many African governments oppose LGBTQ rights, with leaders including Kenya's President William Ruto,  Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, and former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta taking firm stands against it. 

"The biggest threat comes from international organisations promoting unnatural forms of families, like LGBTQ, which undermine the natural heterosexual family," said Dr. Sawira Nasirzadeh, an Iranian diplomat at UNEP. 

"Cohabitation between same-sex couples should not be recognised as family."

Dr. Nasirzadeh added that contradictory scientific research on LGBTQ issues further complicates the debate. "Same-sex families do not understand the basic needs of children or gender roles of the opposite sex," she added. 

Iran’s Ambassador to Kenya, Dr. Ali Gholampour, echoed these sentiments, arguing that same-sex practices go against the values upheld in both Islamic and Christian societies. 

"This lifestyle threatens the basic foundations of families and cannot be considered a human right, as it undermines family integrity and the role of women," he said. 

He added that Iran has consistently opposed LGBTQ rights in international forums.

Lack of chastity
Chastity violations, including unfaithfulness in marriage, were also cited as a leading cause of rising divorce rates and broken families. 

In some Muslim countries, adultery is punishable by severe penalties, including stoning or imprisonment.

The conference, held on the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday, provided a platform to share insights on the state of family life in Iran.

It also explored the evolving role of women in modern society, where gender equality is increasingly championed.

Lecturers and scholars from the University of Nairobi, St. Paul’s University, Kenyatta University, and Maendeleo Ya Wanawake discussed why gender equality is critical for achieving peaceful societies and sustainable development. 

Dr. Ali Pourmarjan, the Cultural Counsellor at the Iranian Embassy, averred that families worldwide, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Europe, face significant challenges. 

"We felt it necessary to bring together Islamic and Christian scholars to discuss family and women's rights in today’s world," he said, adding that the conference was the first of several planned on these issues.

Maendeleo ya Wanawake Chairperson Rahab Muiu called for a return to traditional family values. 

"We need to ask ourselves why our values are eroding and what roles men and women should play in families," she said, supporting the need for national dialogues on family-related challenges.

Remarking on same-sex relationships, Muiu stated that it "is not part of African culture" and supported African leaders' opposition to it. 

However, she called for further dialogue to better understand these communities and identify a way forward.

Muiu also highlighted other threats to families, such as poverty and interference from relatives, particularly when a husband dies, leading to disputes over property.

"Mother-in-laws, in some cases, have become a threat to family stability, and this must be addressed," she said.