The UK's public health service (NHS) says that banning cousin marriage «stigmatises communities».»
The Pakistani community is a leader in cousin marriages and in health problems associated with this practice. British MPs are proposing a ban.
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The United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS) has published new guidelines in which rejects the idea of banning marriages between cousins. According to the document, A ban of this kind stigmatises certain communities and cultural traditions.“ and can undermine confidence in the healthcare system (Good morning, 26.09.2025).
Marriage between cousins is common in the Pakistani community.
A study of the programme Born in Bradford concluded that Almost half (46 per cent) of Pakistani mothers in three Bradford districts were married to a first or second cousin. According to data cited by Good morning, It is in this group that the greatest number of consanguineous unions is recorded, and at the same time a higher incidence of genetic health problems..
According to the figures, One in five children treated for congenital conditions in cities such as Sheffield, Glasgow and Birmingham is of Pakistani origin.. This contrasts with the general population, where congenital defects affect approximately 4 per cent or less.
The NHS's arguments in favour of cousin marriage
While admitting that marriages between first cousins are “associated with an increased likelihood of having a child with a genetic condition or a congenital anomaly”, the NHS emphasises that “There are many other factors that also increase this risk (such as the parents' age, alcohol or tobacco use and assisted reproductive techniques), none of which are prohibited in the United Kingdom.”.
The guidelines published by the NHS also point out that this type of marriage can bring certain advantages. It highlights that they foster “stronger family support systems” and can generate “economic benefits, as resources, assets and inheritances are consolidated rather than diluted across multiple households."”.
Despite the NHS's official position, a survey by YouGov Published in April this year, it revealed that Three out of four Britons (77 per cent) believe that marriages between first cousins should not be legal.. Only nine out of ten people support maintaining the current situation.
Associated diseases and economic cost
Critics point out that diseases such as cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anaemia are more common among the children of consanguineous marriages. These conditions, according to detractors, represent a cost of “billions” of pounds to the British health service.
A featured comment collected by Good morning states: “The incidence of birth defects and intellectual disability in these immigrant families responsible for these ‘cousin marriages’ should give cause for concern. I understand that some of these children are the result of even more aberrant practices within the families. Certainly, these people should not receive NHS resources for such primitive and obscene practices.”.
Process to ban cousin marriage
A bill to ban marriage between first cousins is currently before Parliament, promoted by Conservative MP Richard Holden. According to him, as he told the Daily Mail: “Our NHS should stop kneeling before harmful and oppressive cultural practices. This practice destroys integration, women's rights and the health of those involved.”.
Holden added: “We Conservatives want to end cousin marriage, which is also used as a back door to immigration, but the Labour Party remains deaf to these sensible demands.”.
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-Don't you have cousins?