Lack of chastity, defined roles for men and women pose threat to families

As the world becomes increasingly complex and deeply intertwined with advanced technologies, the foundations of family and human relationships within society, confront numerous challenges.

Traditional, religious and cultural values, which have long served as pillars of family cohesion and strength, now contend with external cultural influences and ideologies that sometimes-run counter to human nature.

Without safeguarding the sanctity of the family through the guidance of divine religion, spirituality, and indigenous cultures, there is risk to encountering significant future challenges.

These details emerged during conference by Cultural Council of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Nairobi.

The one-day conference was on Chastity, Role, and Importance of Family in the Contemporary World.

The event, held in Parklands at the Cultural Council offices, was meant to foster insightful dialogue by both Islamic and Christian attendees, mostly women on the significance of chastity and the evolving role and importance of family in today’s society.

From the conference, it was revealed that unnatural practices, mostly copied from the West, that goes against God’s creation purpose such as same sex practices were among threats to families today.

Others listed were lack of chastity, which is the state or practice of refraining from extramarital, or especially from all, sexual intercourse.

Africans governments have been against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTQ) issue with some Heads of State such as Ugandas Yoweri Museveni  and former  former President Uhuru Kenyatta and now William Ruto declaring their firm stand against it.

“The biggest threat from my perspective comes from international organisations or documents is new unnatural forms of families like LGBTQ, which makes the natural heterosexual families not possible,” said Dr Sawira Nasirzadeh, Iran diplomat incharge of UNEP.

She added: "In the case of LGBTQ, it’s important that cohabitation is not recognised as family members.”

Dr Sawira said the fact that there are so many contradictory results from scientific research some of them approved by LGBTQs proponents makes the issue more confusing.
She said such kind of families of same sex do not know the basic interests of the children or gender rule of the opposite sex.

Ambassador to Kenya Dr Ali Gholampour said LGBTQ goes against all the values we have in societies including human and both Islamic and Christian.

“It goes against the basic needs and foundations of families and it’s not even a basic right that can be given to people as human right because it goes against the basic needs of foundations and integrity of the families and women,” he said.

Then envoy said Iran has clearly taken position on all international forums that LGBTQ goes against all the rules, values and regulations.

“We do not believe that it will help and meet the needs of persons and individuals in the modern world and that is why we are against it since it’s not acceptable at all,” he added.

Chastity, which is failure to uphold Islamic and Christian values by both men and women in marriage, has resulted into unfaithfulness in marriages, leading to many divorces and broken families.
Islam puts emphasis and special premium on chastity that in some Muslim countries, those found committing adultery have been stoned to death or sentenced to jail.

The envoy said the conference, which came on the day of celebration of Prophet Mohammed’s birthday sought to give opportunity to share knowledge and insights from the current society of Iran on family.

Throughout centuries, women have played a pivotal role as the center of affection and love within families and societies.

However, in this century, there has been a conceptual shift regarding the roles of women, accompanied by new ideas aiming to empower women to participate in societal roles traditionally assigned to men.

This has led to women entering domains that were historically the domain of men, despite the natural and physical differences.

Lecturers and scholars from University of Nairobi, St. Paul’s, Kenyatta University and Maendeleo Ya Wanawake shed light on why gender equality, besides being a fundamental human right, is essential to achieve peaceful societies and sustainable development.

Dr Ali Pourmarjan, Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Nairobi said the conference was held at the time when the family is facing a lot of threats.

“There is a lot of discrimination in Africa, Asia and Europe and the families are in danger and felt it necessary to gather with Islamic and Christian scholars to discuss about family and women rights in the cotemporary world,” he said.

He said the conference is the beginning of more to come and there will be three more online to discuss about women rights issues in Kenya and Iran.

Mandeleo Ya Wanawake chairperson Rahab Muiu said it’s time we go back down to where the family started, values and morals.

“It’s time we sit down and ask ourselves why are our values broken, what are the roles of a man and woman in a family,” said Muiu, who supported the need to have such national dialogues to talk about the issues of family and its threats today.

Muiu, while commenting on LGBTQ said it’s not for Africans and supported African leaders stand against it but called for more conversation and dialogue with them to know why they do that and know the way forward about it.

She said interference with families by relatives especially when a husband dies thus creating competition for properties from the large families should be stopped.

Ms Muiu, said poverty is another threat to families, said mother-in-laws are becoming threat to families, which need to be dealt with.