The Interfaith Council of Albania (KNFSH) announced on Friday that it has sent an official letter expressing concerns regarding the new draft law “On Gender Equality.”
The letter was reportedly addressed to President Bajram Begaj, Prime Minister Edi Rama, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, and the Parliamentary Committee on Labor, Social Issues, and Health.
In its statement, the Council emphasized that, based on its analysis, some provisions of the draft law go beyond the scope of gender equality as defined in the current legislation.
According to the Council, such changes risk leading society into a process of moral relativism.
In its report, the Council noted that by redefining the concept of gender and elevating it to an entirely self-determined category, the draft law disconnects human identity from biological nature and replaces it with a changeable, subjective, and uncertain identity concept.
“The Interfaith Council of Albania, representing the five recognized religious communities in the country — the Muslim Community of Albania, the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, the Catholic Church in Albania, the Bektashi World Headquarters, and the Evangelical Brotherhood of Albania — has addressed an official letter to the President of the Republic, the Parliament, the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, and the Committee on Labor, Social Issues, and Health, expressing its concerns regarding the new draft law ‘On Gender Equality,’” the statement reads.
The document, accompanied by an analytical report prepared by the Council’s Expert Group, highlights that some of the proposed amendments differ substantially from the existing law, including unclear definitions.
According to the report, these formulations could lead to legal uncertainty, misinterpretation, and practical difficulties in implementing the law by both public and private institutions.
The Interfaith Council stated that it is fully supportive of respect and equality for every individual, but stressed that any legal intervention must preserve a balance between individual rights, social values, and the biological nature of human beings.
The letter also underscores that legislation should not become an instrument of ideological or cultural imposition, particularly in children’s education.
In conclusion, the Interfaith Council of Albania called on state institutions to conduct a broad public consultation process before adopting any new legal initiative, ensuring the inclusion of all relevant stakeholders.
The religious communities expressed their readiness to contribute to an open and constructive dialogue aimed at protecting human dignity and promoting peace and mutual understanding in society.
