1st cousin marriage

100% ban. It's on the rise as immigration increases from Asia. I work with kids and you can tell which ones are inbred, which is horrible to say. I genuinely feel sorry for them. It brings genetic defects which often results in needs/disabilities, which not only increases the burden on the NHS and DLA (our taxes covering more issues), but is also bringing more and more people into society who cant contribute. The human race will be like zombies in the future, and then eventually killed off by global warming

So by this reasoning all inter-family marriages should be allowed. You could marry your dad or have a civil partnership with your mum.

No, ban first cousin marriage. It might be hard to implement but lots of laws are hard to implement. It should be banned because a higher proportion of the offspring are disabled and require very high levels of care.

The opposition to cousin marriage on here is almost universal

Yes I get you . But to begin with there is no more risk of the couples having a child with a genetic disorder. Because neither of them are related . If one couple has a child with a genetic disorder it’s far more likely the other couple will as well? It’s not inherently wrong for each individual couple in this scenario to get together and take the risk . Or am I wrong ?

2nd cousins are related through their great grandparents and 3rd cousins are related through their great great grandparents.

Having a keen interest in genealogy I am aware of who all my 16 great great grandparents are - they were born at various dates between 1828 and 1869.

I would suggest that 2nd and 3rd cousins are not an issue generally speaking.

However, to be fair, the results of repeated intermarriage like this over many generations within certain communities can be picked up through DNA testing even today.

For example this shows up in DNA testing among French Canadians, Acadians (now Cajuns) and Ashkanazi Jews to this day.

Of course it should be banned. It creates so many health issues, all needing to be funded by the taxpayer. Not fair on the kids either, they have to suffer due to inbreeding.

Very good points.

Yes, I agree with this. My objection to first cousin marriage is not a moral objection.

The problem arises when this is a common practice in certain communities and is repeated down the generations so that the offspring are more likely to be severely disabled. Which is bad for those children and a burden on the rest of society.

As this is practiced in certain communities it creates clans which make it harder for those people to integrate. Muslims and Traveller communities practice first cousin marriage down the generations and this causes problems for them and the wider society.

Although from their point of view it makes their communities stronger and more, literally, close-knit.

I agree but in practice how woud you stop it
I know some muslim marriages are not always registered so whilst they have had the religious ceremoney not all have had the legal one .

Hahaha you’re a legend for this, @Another2Cats

I just watched this Dispatches documentary and it was heartbreaking…

It was balanced and courageous in what it tried to tackle, including speaking directly to faith leaders.

Where cousin marriage was discussed between health professionals and families on the film it seemed to be in the context of antenatal advice or a child health care, but frankly it is far too late at that point if the marriage has already taken place. Although those conversations might have some merit in discouraging future pregnancies.

I think there should be a national ongoing health campaign targeting 12-18 year olds and their parents, perhaps sitting alongside GCSE options, careers information or the meningitis vaccine booster given to teenagers. Then, once health education is widespread, working towards a full ban in a future Parliament.

A culturally-appropriate campaign promoting contraception and responsible family planning would also be a good idea.

The impacts were devastating...

Thanks for posting this, really brave programme.

How can anyone defend this? It's tragic for the children and a massive burden on the rest of society. The communities concerned need to consider the impact of this clan-based culture.

'More than half of British Pakistanis marry their first cousins' according to the programme above. So this isn't a small problem.

And as usual it's the British taxpayer who picks up the tab.

Maybe if people want to marry ther cousin, they should go to a country where it is a cultural norm?

Although this already reducing

The number of people in Bradford's Pakistani community who have married a cousin has fallen sharply in the past 10 years, a study suggests. Higher educational attainment, new family dynamics and changes in immigration rules are thought to be possible reasons.

Ten years ago researchers studying the health of more than 30,000 people in Bradford found that about 60% of babies in the Pakistani community had parents who were first or second cousins, but a new follow-up study of mothers in three inner-city wards finds the figure has dropped to 46%

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67422918

They need more research to discover precisely why the rates are falling and offer more encouragement, more education and not worry is it is going to stigmatize or upset anyone.

But it’s legal in the UK. Why would they feel the need to go elsewhere?

46% is still really high, almost half. That's still a big burden on the taxpayer. Although I'm glad to hear it's fallen from 60% which is a ridiculously high amount.

And what about the Pakistani communities in Leicester, Birmingham and other cities and towns?

Is the practise linked to dowries? Why not make dowries illegal?

Also my concern is how many people actively WANT to marry their cousin? How much of it is community, cultural and family pressures (or force)?

Or choose to wear a hijab at 7 years old

When proponents say it "keeps property in the family" what they really mean is "women AS property" are kept under the control of the men in the family. I know a Pakistani British woman in a cousin marriage, and her father in law (her uncle) controls every aspect of her life because she has no intergenerational support outside his net of influence.

Cousin marriage is categorically misogynistic and we have evolved further as a society than to allow these tribal customs which preference male hierarchical structures back in. It's shameful it is happening again in the UK and we need to stick for all women here in protecting them from these regressive and patriarchal practices.

And George V and Queen Mary were second cousins once removed.

I think some people have heard of cousin marriages within the royal family, and just assume this means first cousins were involved.

I oppose the religious indoctrination of children and would like children to be free to chose to follow or not a religion when they are older. I was in a launderette and the owner asked a boy of about 10 if he was fasting.

It’s not just about the 2 people marrying. It’s about the children from those unions.