To think that 1st Cousin Marriage should be illegal

[stucknoue]

Background: as part of my job I rent out halls, they are very popular for Asian parties and weddings and my clients are lovely, often bringing me food and inviting me to their celebrations.

Over the past couple of months I've unfortunately had to rent the hall for child funeral meals twice to the same family, the kids were cousins and had the same rare genetic condition. In talking to their grandad he revealed that he and his wife were cousins, then going on to tell me that the parents of the sadly deceased children were also cousins. I looked up that cousin marriage increases genetic conditions 3 fold, the more generations that have practiced it then the higher the probability. With our knowledge of science surely this practice should be outlawed?

NarkedinNi I’m not sure I’m entirely following- are you saying that Pakistani families (in the U.K. at least) get a disproportionate amount of attention/medical care for CAs, or that their levels are no higher than any other ethnic group in the U.K.? Because there is lots of evidence that their levels are higher than the general white British population, so I’m not sure you’re saying that.

You can't tell people how to live and question their belief system

PPs have addressed the "telling people how to live" bit, but turning to the rest we most certainly can question belief systems. The sort of offence which amounts to hate speech is rightly disallowed, but discussion, debate and - yes - questioning is precisely how our society operates

You don't have to like it, or agree ...

You can't tell people how to live and question their belief system

Quite possibly the first time I've ever thought 'Won't somebody think of the children?' in all seriousness.

@narkedinNI - www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4614 . Also, you need to remember that the MTFHR gene is most common amongst people from the Middle East through to Asia especially Indians and Pakistanis - so these women should be eating folate in their diet too but often don’t especially if they were raised in India / Pakistan as vegetables often involve too much prep over there for a busy housewife (you often have to soak them in salt water first to get rid of worms / insects).

I think it is quite selfish to continue with this practice as it impacts on society as a whole.

Making it illegal won’t stop it. It will however make screening in pregnancy more difficult because pregnant women won’t answer questions about it truthfully.

Education will be much better.

There is a very interesting documentary that was broadcast on this issue, it's on youtube now

Close blood marriage is common in certain cultures (stating this is not racist, just fact) however it's obvious that some accept there is a risk and take steps to reduce the risk of genetic disease (You will often see genetic testing advertised and actively encouraged at synagogues) other ethnicities are more 'head in the sand' about it.
I know that I carry a genetic disease, knowledge is power and I can take steps to prevent it being passed on. Cousin marriages will always occur however with the appropriate tests then some risks can be mitigated but never all as 'routine' genetic testing only tests for certain things. Education is key.

Exactly Screaming if the families had to finance all the extra healthcare and learning support, they may think twice but guess what someone else will pick up the tab

Passthecherry I 'm saying that by making a certain ethnicity problematic and in need of control then you have to apply the same reasoning to all of the population who have CA's. I have a child with a .CA that was inherited. My EH was not family, neither of us have the condition and as far as we know no one in the family on either side does either. AFAIK in the UK that cousin marriages is not the main reason/cause of CA's, however the media for whatever reason like us to think otherwise. How many people on here have said 'I know a Pakistani family and they have at least one child with special needs' without perhaps even knowing if it is a .CA or just something rando m?

Do you honestly Believe that woodhill? That is racist

I think there's a huge difference between questioning marriage between cousins and making paedophilia legal or dropping our laws against child abuse, rape etc.
I can't remember saying this at all.

Why is it racist. Why would you marry someone who is related if it increases the chance of the child being disadvantaged physically when it is not necessary in this day and age

Exactly Screaming if the families had to finance all the extra healthcare and learning support, they may think twice but guess what someone else will pick up the tab

Lets assume for one moment that they all marry in the hope of having children eligible for disability benefits (as charmingly suggested by the delightful GrannySquares upthread).

The total cost would a pin prick compared to the costs to the NHS of drinking, smoking and other drugs. So if your concern is about cost it would make more sense to direct your anger at those costs.

Alternatively you could focus on education, information and testing which has actually worked including in very traditional religious communities - some muslim, some white European (including British) and a range of other ethnicities.

Doesn't offer the same opportunities to snipe at a particular ethnic group of course.

Woodhill I am white British and chose to continue with my pregnancy. Do you think I should have to pay for all treatment and should not be entitled to NHS funds? Genuine question btw, not being goady.

YANBU.

I've seen that documentary posted above, but I also have a disabled cousin.

I haven't sniped at anyone but I think there is truth in what I am saying

So does having children if you have a genetic based disability @woodhill. So does having children at an older age. So does having children as part of a restricted religious community. So does drinking or taking drugs during pregnancy. Its racist cause the OP and many on this thread dont have much to say about disability made more likely in these ways, only disability caused by first cousin marriage as practised by the Asian community.

Even now in some British farming families marriage is often strategic with inheritance in mind. Not to say cousins or inter family marriage, but marrying within certain parts of the community.
Farmers marry each other but they don't marry their cousins. There is an organisation called the Young Farmers' Club so that everyone can meet each other. People travel all over the country to meet new people. A brighter more physically able group of young people you could ever hope to meet. I know you are trying to be goady but I have answered your question seriously.

Fishcakes that is very true, we all carry at least one genetic disease, most people 2-3. The vast majority of issues in The UK as a whole are from two random non related people.

It’s not racist My dad’s family are Asian so I say this as a grandchild of immigrants, OP don’t worry. It is more prominent in some cultures than others

Woodhill- because you’re labelling Pakistani / Bangladeshi families who are affected by this as scroungers. That’s racist.

This is also prevalent in their home countries where there are few benefits and no NHS so what you say isnt true at all - they would continue to marry cousins if they had to pay for healthcare

I find it hard to understand why families would continue with this practice

Because you don’t understand their culture woodhill?

I haven’t rtft, but just wanted to say, it isn’t only Asian communities it is prevalent in the UK. I used to work with the Hasidic Orthodox Jewish community in Stamford Hill, and it was very prevalent, with a lot of children being born with genetic disorders.