(Sky News) An MP has spoken against calls to ban first cousin marriage in the UK, suggesting instead that advanced genetic screening is made available to prospective married couples.
Independent MP Iqbal Mohamed said while “freedom of women must be protected at all times,” he did not believe outlawing the practice would be “effective or enforceable.”
He argued that rather than “stigmatising” cousin marriages, a “much more positive approach” should be adopted to respond to health concerns linked to the children of those relationships.
The MP for Dewsbury and Batley suggested measures could include adopting similar screening efforts to those undertaken in Arab countries in the Persian Gulf.
