An independent MP today spoke out against a proposed ban on first cousins being able to marry in Britain.
Iqbal Mohamed, MP for Dewsbury and Batley, told the House of Commons that many people view family intermarriage as ‘very positive’.
He said it was seen as something that could help ‘build family bonds’ and put families on a more secure financial foothold’.
Mr Mohamed admitted there were ‘health risks’ for the children of such marriages.
But he said a ‘more positive approach’ would be to ‘facilitate advanced genetic test screening’ for couples wishing to marry.
He also called for ‘education programmes’ to be targeted at those communities where family intermarriage is most common, as he told MPs to reject an outright ban.
Mr Mohamed spoke out against Tory MP Richard Holden’s efforts to bring in new legislation to prohibit the marriage of first cousins.
The former Conservative Party chairman this afternoon introduced his Marriage (Prohibited Degrees of Relationship) Bill to the Commons via a ten-minute rule motion.
Iqbal Mohamed, MP for Dewsbury and Batley, told the House of Commons that many people view family intermarriage as ‘very positive’
Mr Mohamed spoke out against Tory MP Richard Holden’s efforts to bring in new legislation to prohibit the marriage of first cousins
Mr Holden told MPs: ‘Members across the House may wonder why first-cousin marriage is not already illegal.
‘In fact many in this House and in the country may already think it is. And that is understandable.’
The MP for Basildon and Billericay added that laws on first-cousin marriage had been left ‘unchanged’ since the reign of Henry VIII.
He warned there had been a ‘worrying trend’ of an increased rate of cousins marrying among some communities in Britain – although he noted there were reports of rates falling in the last decade as ‘young people push back against this system’.
Mr Holden outlined ‘health, freedom and our national values’ as three areas of concern over family intermarriage in the UK.
He urged the Labour Government to look as his Bill as a ‘vehicle for positive change in our country’, adding: ‘Because, in the end, it’s about more than one marriage – it’s about the values and foundations of our society and our democracy.’
Mr Mohamed, who is part of the Independent Alliance of MPs – including ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, agreed there were ‘documented health risks with first-cousin marriage’.
He also spoke of the need to prevent so-called ‘virginity testing’ and forced marriages, adding the ‘freedom of women must be protected at all times’.
But, speaking against Mr Holden’s Bill, Mr Mohamed said ‘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,’ he told MPs.
‘In doing so it is important to recognise for many people that this is a highly sensitive issue and in discussing it we should try to step into the shoes of those who perhaps are not from the same culture as ours, to better understand why the practice continues to be so widespread.
‘An estimated 35-50 per cent of all sub-Saharan African populations either prefer or accept cousin marriages and it is extremely common in the Middle East and in South Asia.
‘The reason the practice is so common is that ordinary people see family intermarriage overall as something that is very positive, something that helps build family bonds, and helps put families on a more secure financial foothold.
‘However, as is well documented, it is not without health risks for the children of those relationships.’
Urging MPs to oppose Mr Holden’s proposed ban, Mr Mohamed added: ‘Instead of stigmatising those who are 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.’
Tory justice spokesman Robert Jenrick said: ‘It’s shocking that an MP would defend this revolting practice which is linked to birth defects and abusive relationships. We know this is causing immense harm. It’s shameful Labour won’t back the Bill to stamp it out.’
Mr Holden asked for his Bill to be considered at second reading on January 17 next year.
But it faces a battle to become law due to the amount of parliamentary time available to such private members’ bills to clear the necessary stages.
Its progress could be accelerated if it attracts Government support.
Existing legislation states the prohibited degrees of relationship for marriage include those to a sibling, parent or child, but not marriages between first cousins.
Professor Rebecca Probert, of Exeter University, explained: ‘Marriage to a first cousin has been legal in England and Wales since the Reformation – largely due to legislation passed to confer validity on Henry VIII’s changing matrimonial choices.’
Downing Street indicated the Government had no plans to ban marriages between first cousins despite the health risks.
A No 10 spokesman said: ‘I think the expert advice on the risks of first-cousin marriage are clear.
‘But in terms of legislation, the Government has set out its priorities.’
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: ‘The Government will consider existing marriage law before publicly setting out a position.’
