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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should it be illegal for 1st cousins to marry?

555 replies

brasty · 06/06/2017 20:38

My DP's parents are 1st cousins, and DP has a genetic illness. Marrying your 1st cousin increases the chances of genetic illness. So I wonder if we should simply make it illegal for 1st cousins to marry? Obviously anyone married would stay so, it would only apply to new marriages.
AIBU?

OP posts:
Thekissbyklimt13 · 06/06/2017 20:40

It is in some places e.g. ROI.

snotato · 06/06/2017 20:40

I thought it was already illegal???

WinterWonders · 06/06/2017 20:41

I always thought it was illegal Confused

CorporalNobbyNobbs · 06/06/2017 20:41

It's not illegal in ROI. I know married 1st cousins.

Missb00 · 06/06/2017 20:41

Isn't it illegal already?

Original poster
brasty · 06/06/2017 20:41

No it is perfectly legal

OP posts:
HeyCat · 06/06/2017 20:41

Yanbu. It's too close a relationship imo.

Amanduh · 06/06/2017 20:42

Nope, it's legal here. And it should be banned. So weird.

QueenMortificado · 06/06/2017 20:42

It's legal?! That is.... gross!!!

Missb00 · 06/06/2017 20:42

Then yes it should if they are willingly having children knowing there is a risk of disability or illness.

TFPsa · 06/06/2017 20:43

It's legal in this country but shouldn't be imo. Is illegal in plenty of other places.

twobambinos · 06/06/2017 20:43

Not illegal in roi I know first cousins who are married

Smidge001 · 06/06/2017 20:43

snotato it's not illegal in the UK. Used to be quite common.

Think it's up to the individuals myself. As long as they know that clearly any genetic issues are more likely to be passed down.

Also think maybe it's more about having children together than marrying that's the risk here.

Kpo58 · 06/06/2017 20:43

Probably not, as long as it doesn't happen too often in families. Less than 50% of the DNA will be the same. 2 of the parents won't be related and with the siblings, they won't have the exact same DNA as each other unless they are identical twins.

Double cousins marrying would be a bigger issue.

Original poster
brasty · 06/06/2017 20:43

In fairness to DPs parents, they went to the Dr to get advice before getting married, and were advised it would be fine. But this was about 60 years ago.

OP posts:
anonymice · 06/06/2017 20:43

you are specifically warned that having children is very very ill advised in the UK if you marry a first cousin....

Starlighter · 06/06/2017 20:44

It's way too close! I think it should definitely be illegal.

anonymice · 06/06/2017 20:44

now that is. Not sure about 60 years ago Sad

Morphene · 06/06/2017 20:45

my dd was asking about this as she wants to make babies with her cousin. They are both 6 yo so probably nothing to get excited about for the time being.....

ExplodedCloud · 06/06/2017 20:45

It's legal in the UK and US too I believe.

Original poster
brasty · 06/06/2017 20:46

I am glad that advice is given now, I didn't know that

OP posts:
hula008 · 06/06/2017 20:46

I don't think that it should be legal for first cousins to marry but not for the fact that they might have genetic diseases - there are lots of other situations where children are at higher risk of genetic diseases.

Maudlinmaud · 06/06/2017 20:46

Very common in the Irish Traveller community.

BarbarianMum · 06/06/2017 20:47

No I don't think it should be illegal (much as i personally dislike the idea). Lots of people have children in the full knowledge that they have a high risk of disability or will be disabled.

OhtoblazeswithElvira · 06/06/2017 20:47

According to Wikipedia...

it is banned in China, Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea and some USA states. That's it.

Worldwide 1 in 10 marriages is between first cousins.