Eu Country Considers Ban On Cousin Marriage

[fender62]

is the eu suddenly waking up to this practice, should have been banned years ago, won't happen here though, more reason for migrants to make there way here.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1959308/sweden-cousin-marriage-ban

[jourdain2]

Tricky.  Occasional marriages between cousins have happened  here for many years - but they were occasional.

From personal knowledge, the Pakistani immigrant community around Bradford fostered cousin marriages, even importing cousins, over many years.

I remember visiting a 'special needs' school - it was supposed to be exclusively for deaf children - and it was rammed full of multiply-handicapped Pakistani children; deafness was one of their problems so they'd been shoved in there.  The staff were in despair - this was in the 1990s.

As I say, tricky. Do we forbid it or permit the occasional cousinly marriage?  It would have to be one or the other, I feel.

On balance, I would vote for the greatest good of the greatest number and forbid it.

[curlyfries81]

I've heard that there is a high rate of defects among the children of consanguineous cousins. I did read an article not that long ago and it's rife among African people living in this country. I would say forbid it too.

[andres]

My aunt married her cousin in the 1930s.Both English . Perfectly  legal as it  still is here. Marriage between cousins is not really advisable as curlyfries has just pointed out because  the children might have deformities. Out of the five children my aunt and uncle had --one had speech problems, one had epilepsy and the third had St.Vitus' Dance.

 

[barry1010]

Would it mean compulsory DNA tests before every marriage? What about civil partnerships? 

It wouldn't stop first cousins living together and having babies - and if they did could a court prevent them marrying? 

My instinct is to ban it, but I can't see how it could be enforced.  Would the couple be asked if they are cousins, and would them saying no be enough? 

My cousins' parents surnames are different to my parents surnames.

[New Judge]

"My instinct is to ban it, but I can't see how it could be enforced."

Simple enough to make it illegal. Just extend the law of incest to include first cousins (as some countries do).

As with most such offences, difficult to enforce.

 

[Barsel]

Neighbours of mine from many years ago were cousins and they got married when they were in their  late 50's.

No children to be had there, so would there have to be amendments?

[barry1010]

NJ, unless they admitted they were cousins how would the authorities know?

[davebro3]

It may not be enforceable but just that fact that it would be illegal could act as a significant deterrent.

[youngmafbog]

It causes issues.  Should be banned.

 

//It wouldn't stop first cousins living together and having babies //

And currentn law doesnt stop fathers having babies with their daughters.  So should we bin current incest laws?

[barry1010]

It is much easier to identify a parent/child relationship than cousins, that is the point I am making.  If the couple don't declare it before they get married, how would officialdom know?

The proposal is to make marriage between cousins illegal, not having sex and babies.

[youngmafbog]

//The proposal is to make marriage between cousins illegal, not having sex and babies.//

So why did you use it in an argument then>

//It wouldn't stop first cousins living together and having babies//

[davebro3]

//The proposal is to make marriage between cousins illegal, not having sex and babies.//

I would think that in those cultures where this is most common the object of such marriages IS to have sex & make babies!

[barry1010]

The cultures I think you are referring to would just get married in their own places of worship so they consider themselves married but not bothered with the civil wedding.  Not married in the eyes of the law.

 

[youngmafbog]

This is nit picking.

As NJ says the incest laws need chaning then all are caught under it. Yes it is difficult to stop but after a few procesutions it should help stem the flow.

[davebro3]

If they want to benefit tax-wise and maybe for other things proof of a legal marriage or CP will be required.

[New Judge]

"NJ, unless they admitted they were cousins how would the authorities know?"

No idea, barry. Unless the police undertook a "geneology" exercise of some sort. As I said, enforcement would be difficult.

However, there is little doubt that offspring of couples who share grandparents can often have genetic deformities. If sex between cousins was made illegal it would certainly send a message that the activity is not particularly advisable. But bearing in mind the demographic of the people who form the largest group to indulge in the practice, it would in all likelihood fall on deaf ears and just be condemned as an "attack on their cultture." 

[youngmafbog]

Meanwhile the Tax Payer thorugh the NHS and schooling and no doubt DLA has to pick up the tab.  For "their culture".

[Old_Geezer]

Just a ban on marriage, not incest ?

May not be the solution looked for; but could give certain cultures pause for thought.

[andres]

I wonder if Sweden mean just first cousins or the more distant cousins as well?

[barry1010]

Uzbekistan is going further and banning marriage between second cousins as well as first.

http://en.centralasia.news/29560-uzbekistan-to-ban-marriages-between-collateral-relatives.html#:~:text=Currently%2C%20marriages%20between%20close%20relatives,children%20%E2%80%94%20are%20prohibited%20in%20Uzbekistan.