Recently the topic of ‘Marriage Between Cousins’ has become a subject of debate especially, in the western society. This controversial idea has sparked a lot of splits amongst society;of those who believe in it, and of those who completely disregard the very idea! The controversy revolving around this very idea has encouraged me to explore further into this issue. Therefore, for my A2 coursework I decided to create a documentary on ‘Marriage Between Cousins’.

Firstly, I conducted a survey to gather some data on how the general public feel towards this very idea. The results showed that around 80% of people refuse to get married within their cousins due to the health implication s associated with first-cousin marriage.

Previously 'Marriage Between Cousins' was widely accepted amongst the middle eastern ethnicities. However, in the recent years especially amongst Asian women more research is being conducted behind the very idea and more of the risks and issues in terms of gene pool have been raised. Therefore, I visited Dr. Lubna Waheed to explore on exactly what it is about, marriage between cousins, that makes people so alarmed. She said ‘If you are marrying in the family then you are essentially reducing your gene pool. So, if someone has recessive disorders or if someone has a recessive allele for a disorder and they are a carrier and then their partner also has it,then, the likelihood of them being a first cousin/close relative is a lot higher than someone being outside of the family, then you are essentially making it that your child could have a 1/4 chance of having the condition and a 1/2 chance of being a carrier like you. Now that’s also not saying that if you marry outside the family then there definitely won’t be any issues because, gene mutation runs over the general population, for example quite a common one is Cystic Fibrosis’.     

Worldwide, it has been estimated that almost half of all Muslims are inbred.Therefore, I visited the Baitul Futuh Mosque, located in Morden to speak to the Imam; Mr. Naseem Bajwa, to explore more on the Islamic perspective of ‘Marriage Between Cousins’. He said ‘The first thing you should remember is that the Holy Quran has never commanded that you must get married with your cousins, so neither it is commanded and nor it is forbidden, so its left to your own choice’. Going further into this topic he said ‘that the Holy Prophet (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has also given some guidance on this subject. In Al Bukari (after the Holy Quran this is the most authentic book of Hadith, which is the sayings of the Holy Prophet). In this book the Holy prophet (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that usually one marries a woman for four reasons; 1) Her wealth, 2) Her family, 3) Her beauty or for 4) Her righteousness; give preference to the one who is righteous, may you remain humble’. Dr, Bajwa further went on to say that ‘this is what Islam requires from both men and women regarding the topic of Marriage, therefore, the next step of choosing your spouse to be is left to your own choice as; In the Holy Quran it clearly states; that you should get married where you like’.  

Marriage between cousins is often stereotyped to be typical in the Asian community however, this isn’t always the case. I went to speak to, Mrs Elizabeth Ridout, who is a British citizen and was born as a result of first-cousin marriage. When I asked her if she thinks marriage between cousins is more common amongst the western society then we think it is, she said ‘I think it is but I think people keep it quiet, because, whenever I mention it although I think it is entirely normal, people are always shocked by the very idea and in fact I have faced criticism especially where I grew up as in my country cousin marriage is looked very down upon'. Furthermore, she said ‘From a Christian’s point of view, It’s whoever you want to marry really, however, if it’s a second generation cousin marriage then you need to think seriously about the health implications associated with it’.  

I also visited a British-born couple who have chosen to get married being first-cousins. They both emphasised on the fact that; Yes, they have considered the health implications of first-cousin marriage.However, it doesn’t really affect them.Miss Tahir said ‘The success rate of marriage between cousins is far higher than the likelihood of the child who is born as a result of cousin marriage having some sort of disabilities’ which is why they have made this decision despite, the social stigma and the views held behind this common practice. 

To sum up, creating this documentary has surely enabled me to explore on the controversy revolving around the very idea of 'Marriage between cousins'; from a range of different perspectives. So, in a nutshell the very idea is not cultural or religious, but, it’s completely an individual’s choice. Furthermore, the potential risks accosiated with marraige in general, run across the general population and not only as a cause of marriage between cousins! 

Marriage in Islam (https://www.alislam.org/library/women/marriage-in-islam/)

Marriage in Christianity (https://www.openbible.info/topics/marrying_cousins)

Bazla Samin 

Carshalton High School For Girls