LONDON, (TDI): A proposed bill to ban first-cousin marriages is set to be introduced in the UK House of Commons today.
If passed, the bill would make such marriages illegal in the United Kingdom. While marriages between siblings, parents, and children are already prohibited, marriages between first cousins remain legal.
The call for a ban comes from Conservative former minister Richard Holden, who argues that cousin marriages have been associated with a higher incidence of birth defects and can also “reinforce negative structures and control women.”
Cousin marriages are common in many regions around the world, but they can lead to genetic disorders caused by gene mutations.
Health experts warn that such unions increase the risks of health complications, including infant mortality, infertility, preterm births, thalassemia, epilepsy, hearing and speech impairments, and bipolar disorder.
Also Read: Save the Children appeals to end child marriages
Similar concerns have prompted Sweden and Denmark to consider banning cousin marriages, citing fears that the practice may contribute to domestic violence and social oppression.
Also Read: UNICEF Report on Child Marriages in Afghanistan
In Pakistan, cousin marriages are widespread, with over 65 percent of marriages involving cousins, and the rate rising to as high as 85 percent in some communities. Experts have pointed to a sharp increase in genetic disorders in the country as a result.
