"I don't think it would be effective or enforceable."
An MP has opposed the proposed ban on first-cousin marriage in the UK, suggesting that advanced genetic screening be made available to prospective married couples.
Independent MP Iqbal Mohamed said that while “freedom of women must be protected at all times”, he did not believe outlawing first-cousin marriage would be “effective or enforceable”.
Instead of “stigmatising” cousin marriages, Mr Mohamed said a “much more positive approach” should be adopted to respond to health concerns linked to the children of those relationships.
He suggested measures could include adopting similar screening efforts to those undertaken in Arab countries.
Mr Mohamed was responding to Tory former minister Richard Holden, who introduced his Marriage (Prohibited Degrees of Relationship) Bill for further consideration in the House of Commons.
The current law prohibits marriage to a sibling, parent or child, but not marriages between first cousins.
Mr Mohamed said: “There are documented health risks with first-cousin marriage and I agree this is an issue that needs greater awareness.”
He highlighted the need to prevent so-called “virginity testing” and forced marriages, and also to protect the freedom of women.
Mr Mohamed told MPs: “However, the way to redress this is not to empower the state to ban adults from marrying each other, not least because I don’t think it would be effective or enforceable.
“Instead the matter needs to be approached as a health awareness issue, a cultural issue where women are being forced against their will to undergo marriage.”
According to Mr Mohamed, an estimated 35% to 50% of all sub-Saharan African populations “prefer or accept” cousin marriages, and it is “extremely common” in the Middle East and South Asia.
He argued that it is popular because it is seen as “something that is very positive, something that helps build family bonds and helps put families on a more secure financial foothold”.
Mr Mohamed added: “Instead of stigmatising those in cousin marriages or those inclined to be, a much more positive approach would be to facilitate advanced genetic test screening for prospective married couples, as is the case in all Arab countries in the Persian Gulf, and more generally to run health education programmes targeting those communities where the practice is most common.”
Mr Holden introduced the proposal using the 10-minute rule process, however, these bills rarely become law unless they have government support, because of the limited parliamentary time given to them.
According to Downing Street, expert advice on the risk of first-cousin marriage was clear but indicated that there were no plans to change the law.
A spokesperson said:
“In terms of legislation, the government has set out its priorities.”
Mr Holden argued that a change in the law is needed as certain diaspora communities have “extremely high rates of first cousin marriage”.
This includes the British Pakistani community and Irish Travellers.
He said such marriages have been linked to a higher rate of birth defects and can also “reinforce negative structures and control women”.
He said “health, freedom and national values” are the reasons why he moved the bill.
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