Voice of British Muslim Women

Dr Amtul Kafi Bhunnoo, London  

In recent news, Richard Holden, a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) has sparked some discussions with remarks about potentially banning cousin marriages with the guise that it will promote public health. 1 However, this proposal crushes personal freedom, cultural identity and scientific understanding.

Richard Holden’s words clearly stem from us vs them mentality and try to misguide the public into thinking that minority communities, particularly immigrants, bring foreign issues to the country. This misdirects the public from bigger and pressing issues. This tactic is not new of politicians, but it is very sad that minorities are targeted and blamed for bringing “problems”. Minorities are also in fact insulted as incapable of making the right decision for themselves. Statistics clearly show that minorities are mostly marginalised and live in deprived areas while contributing to the economy. Politicians find it very convenient to blame minorities for the collapse of the economy, which in fact is due to poor governing with decisions made in the disinterest of the country, including directing funds to wars in other countries. 2

Let’s examine here how this proposed ban really is Islamophobic, counter-productive and rooted in ignorance. Consanguinity is practiced by up to 10% of the global population and is deeply rooted in cultural, socioeconomic, and historical traditions (Oniya et al., 2019). 3

This proposal seems to come from ignorance and bias, as the media often portrays some cultural practices, especially those linked to the Muslim community, in a negative light. This tradition is not alien to the West as many Western communities including Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were part of. 4

The Holy Qur’an talks about the several forbidden marital relationships in chapter 4 verses 23-26 and which sets out that the cousin marriages are not forbidden in Islam. 5 Geneticists such as Dr. Eamonn Sheridan from the university of Leeds has said “It is important to note that the vast majority of babies born to couples who are blood relatives are absolutely fine, and whilst consanguineous marriage increases the risk of birth defect from 3% to 6%, the absolute risk is still small.” 6 The Holy Qur’an, in its eternal wisdom for the whole of mankind has broadened the choice of marriage to find the best suitable partner for a successful happy marriage.

For example, a recent news story was about a man whose twelve family members died from a serious disease called frontotemporal dementia. 7 We don’t know if his parents were cousins, but this disease is caused if just one parent carries the gene, giving the child a 50% chance of getting it. 8 Additionally, some women can be allergic to their partner’s sperm, which can cause infertility. 9

Different groups of people have different genetic risks. 10 For instance, Ashkenazi Jews are more likely to carry BRCA gene mutation which is a risk factor in breast and ovarian cancer than other populations and are also genetically predisposed to Tay-Sachs disease, a fatal genetic condition which affects nerve cells in a child’s brain and spinal cord. Caucasians have a higher incidence of cystic fibrosis, inherited condition that causes sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system. Africans have a higher risk of inheritance for sickle cell anaemia, in which some red blood cells are shaped like sickles or crescent moons. These sickle cells also become rigid and sticky, which can slow or block blood flow and cardiovascular disease. This highlights the importance of genetic testing for all couples, regardless of being cousins or not.

Genetics is a complex and ever-changing field. All humans share genes, no matter their race, religion, or background. Many health problems come from environmental factors like rising food prices and issues with housing and clothing 11. People who practice cousin marriages in this country often live in poorer neighbourhoods, which can lead to health problems 12. As issues like insulin resistance increase, the chances of people marrying who have this condition also rise, affecting future generations 13. This is a serious concern since these health issues are becoming more common in people’s genes. These risks are so significant and cause the NHS several billion pounds that has brought the healthcare system to its knees 14. If lawmakers impose their biased beliefs and target cultural practices, where will it end? Society already labels different regional dishes as smelly, could they ban smelly food or I should say strong flavoured food in common rooms such as lunch time? 15

Many couples are already seeking genetic advice to make informed family planning decisions, regardless of whether they are related. Instead of imposing bans that create stigma, it is better to promote education and access to genetic counselling. This way, people can make the best choices for their families without losing their rights or cultural practices.

As we look to the future, we should support solutions that celebrate diversity, encourage conversation, and respect personal choices. Society should focus on informed decision-making instead of restrictions. By adopting this mindset, we can ensure that our laws and social systems reflect our multicultural society while also prioritising health and well-being in a respectful way.

It says in the Holy Qur’an: “And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your tongues and colours. In that surely are Signs for those who possess knowledge.” (Chapter 30 Verse 23)16

1 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czend1y0xjko
2 https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8175/
3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30502592/
4 https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/queen-victoria-prince-albert
5 https://www.alislam.org/quran/app/4:23
6 https://www.leeds.ac.uk/news-health/news/article/3413/key-factors-in-understanding-differences-in-rates-of-birth-defects-identified
7 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly2k2k7k7qo
8 https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/types-dementia/frontotemporal-dementia-causes 9 https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sex/semen-allergy
10 https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-your-ancestry-and-ethnicity-affect-your-health
11 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10882727/
12 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-report-of-the-commission-on-race-and-ethnic-disparities-supporting-research/ethnic-disparities-in-the-major-causes-of-mortality-and-their-risk-factors-by-dr-raghib-ali-et-al
13 https://transmedcomms.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s41231-022-00124-6
14 https://academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/article-abstract/33/4/527/1568587?redirectedFrom=fulltext
15 https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/food-gentrification-ethnic-cuisine-immigrant-chefs-critics-stop-calling-anthony-bourdain-krishendu-ray-a7957051.html
16 https://www.alislam.org/quran/app/30:22