A proposal for banning marriages between first cousins in Britain will soon be in Parliament for discussion. Richard Holden, a Conservative Member of Parliament, plans to present the Marriage (Prohibited Degrees of Relationship) Bill before the House of Commons on Tuesday in pursuit of a belief that such marriages lead to increased numbers of people born with birth defects as well as “reinforce negative structures and control women”.
“Most people assume that it is already illegal and are shocked to find out otherwise,” Holden said. Meanwhile, Labour has said that it needs time to “properly consider our marriage law” before taking a position on the issue.
Under the Marriage Act 1949 in the United Kingdom, marriages formed between siblings, parents, and children are prohibited, but those between first cousins remain permissible. The same goes for sexual activity with certain family members, which the Sexual Offences Act 2003 criminalized but does not include first cousins. Amendments to both these laws will be required by the proposal from Holden.
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As stated by Holden, studies suggest that “first-cousin marriages give rise to defects at approximately twice the rate found in the general population.” He emphasized that these marriages were more “cultural than religious” in those communities that practice it more commonly. A research study carried out by Dr. Patrick Nash has indicated that 38 to 59 percent of British Pakistanis have married, or will marry, their first cousins, while Oxford professor Alison Shaw said this figure is likely to rise.
Just before making his case to Parliament, Holden said: “In light of my previous attempts to ban hymenoplasty and so-called virginity testing, I will ask the government to review the legality of first cousin marriage in the UK. Many countries and states have dealt with this issue. Now it is time for us to do so.”
The issue is very complex, acknowledged Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones, adding that some amendments to the Marriage Act 1949, and possibly the Sexual Offences Act of 2003, will be required to effect such a ban. It will take up the time of a new government “to properly review our marriage law, as well as the Law Commission’s 2022 wedding report, before we announce our position,” she added.