First Cousin Marriage

First Cousin Marriage in the UK: Why It Must End Now

By Aneeta Prem MBE, Founder of Freedom Charity

Why First-Cousin Marriage Is a National Concern

First cousin marriage is legal in the UK, but this outdated practice is harming children and trapping families in cycles of dishonour-based abuse. I’ve worked with young survivors across the country—children told they must marry their cousin “for the family.” At Freedom Charity, we’ve seen the trauma, the silence, and the consequences firsthand.

This is not a cultural issue. It’s a child protection emergency. It’s time to break the silence.

What Is First-Cousin Marriage and Where Is It Legal?

First cousin marriage is a union between two people who share at least one grandparent. This makes them close blood relatives. While it remains legal in the UK, other countries have banned it due to health and human rights concerns.

Why It Happened Historically—and Why It Must Stop

Historically, cousin marriage was used to keep wealth in families. It also reduced dowry costs and helped preserve tribal or caste lines. But today, it is often used to control women, suppress freedom of choice, and prevent “dishonour” to the family. When repeated across generations, the risks increase sharply.

What may once have been tradition has now become a vehicle for hidden abuse.

Health Risks of First Cousin Marriage

The Born in Bradford study—a major UK-based research project—shows that children of first cousin marriages face double the risk of serious birth defects. These include:

• Congenital heart problems

• Thalassaemia and other blood disorders

• Metabolic and neurological conditions

• Physical and developmental disabilities

NHS data also shows that up to 30% of paediatric referrals in some areas are linked to cousin marriage. This is not rare. It is a public health issue.

“These health outcomes are preventable. We’re failing children when we look the other way.”
— NHS Consultant, West Midlands

The Link to Dishonour-Based Abuse

At Freedom Charity, we support children whose marriages were arranged without consent—often before they turned 13. In these cases, cousin marriage isn’t about love. It’s about control.

Families use cousin marriage to:

• Prevent young people from choosing their partner

• Keep inheritance within the family

• Avoid perceived “Westernisation”

• Enforce obedience and preserve reputation

“I didn’t know I was engaged until my flight was booked. It wasn’t a choice—it was an order.”
— Survivor helped by Freedom Charity

Why Professionals Struggle to Speak Out

Teachers, doctors, and social workers often recognise the warning signs. But many are afraid to raise concerns. The fear of being called racist, or culturally insensitive, keeps professionals silent—even when safeguarding laws should be clear.

But this is not about race. It is about risk. And the law should always prioritise the welfare of the child.

What Needs to Change: My 6 Calls to Action

I am calling on the UK Government, NHS England, and safeguarding agencies to act now. We must:

1. Ban first cousin marriage in the UK to protect future generations

2. Introduce mandatory genetic screening and counselling

3. Classify cousin marriage as a dishonour-based safeguarding flag

4. Train professionals to act without fear of cultural backlash

5. Launch a national public awareness campaign

6. Ensure survivors are heard, not hidden

This Is a Human Rights Issue

Every child has the right to be born healthy and free. Every young person has the right to choose if, when, and whom to marry. And every professional has the right—and duty—to act when those rights are under threat.

Ending first cousin marriage is not about blaming communities. It’s about protecting lives. The silence must end, and the law must change.

About Aneeta Prem MBE

Freedom Charity was founded to protect children from forced marriage and dishonour-based abuse. We helped criminalise forced marriage in the UK. We have taught safeguarding across the country. And we are calling now—for every school, every doctor, every lawmaker—to speak up and act.

Key References and Further Reading

• Born in Bradford Study – BMJ Open

• Freedom Charity Resources

• UK Parliament Bill on Marriage (2023)

• Thalassaemia UK

• WHO: Consanguinity & Genetic Risk

Internal Linking Suggestions (TNA or Freedom Site)

• Link to Freedom Charity’s safeguarding hub

• Link to Dishonour-based abuse educational resources

• Link to Aneeta’s campaign to end forced marriage