Kissing cousins and bad genetics!

It’s a nasty little secret and one that we really need to honestly confront. First-cousin marriages, still practiced in pockets of Britain, are a growing concern due to their health and social consequences. Geneticists warn us that children from these unions face significantly higher risks of congenital disorders—studies cite a doubled chance of birth defects, from 2-3% in the general population to 4-6% for cousin offspring.

In heavily Muslim areas like Bradford, where consanguineous marriages are common, (around 50%) NHS resources are strained by the resulting medical needs, with conditions like heart defects and metabolic disorders appearing at alarming rates.

Israr Hussain and his wife, Tasleem Akhtar, have four daughters between the ages of five and 15. They chose to have their wedding back home in Pakistan in 2007 (but of course, maybe they should stay there?) and live in Birmingham in the UK. The 47-year-olds are not only husband and wife, but also first cousins, as both of their fathers are brothers. Can you imagine the gene chaos this means for those poor four girls? Can you imagine the potential horrors?

Defenders of this barbaric practise claim “cultural tradition” or “family cohesion”, but these arguments crumble under scrutiny. Strengthening family ties doesn’t justify the preventable suffering of children or the subsequent life log burden on public healthcare. Social integration also stalls when first cousin marriage practices reinforce community silos, hindering broader societal cohesion. Critics argue that education campaigns are too timid, failing to challenge entrenched norms head-on. Worse, some communities report pressure to maintain these marriages, raising questions about individual choice.

The data does not lie: in some regions (Pakistan) more than 60% of muslims marry first cousins. This tradition is then imported into the UK. Yet, the response remains pretty mute, with authorities tiptoeing around cultural sensitivities.

It’s time for a blunt reckoning—prioritising child welfare and public health over outdated third world customs. It should be made a crime and those who insist on it deported. Tough love is needed.

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