| Cousin marriages among Pakistani Moslem immigrants has resulted in a significantly larger portion of birth defects among their babies compared to British babies as a whole than the Brit-Pakistani portion of the general population. |
| When dealing with a strong cultural preference coupled with a tradition of arranged marriages that has been going on for over a millennium, the results are catastrophic. |
"The law against first-cousin marriage is a major form of discrimination," said University of Washington Department of Medicine Director of Genetic Counseling, Robin Bennett (M.S., CGC, (she/her)).
| Director Bennett is a posturing, parochial fool. Counselling Directory UK adds: |
For British Paks, moving away from their hometown and leaving behind family is not easy. Many start a fresh life in the UK but eventually become fearful that they will lose their cultural values and, as a way to stay connected, they encourage or even force their children to marry back home within the family. This is an attempt to keep family ties strong and maintain family relationships.
Others will frown upon the British culture i.e. clubbing, dating, pre-marital sexual relationships and as a way to prevent their children from engaging, consanguineous marriages will take place.
Many in the community are unaware of the tragic consequences of cousin marriages.
Genetic conditions can affect anyone, but the problem arises when the couple (related) both carry abnormal genes. If the baby inherits the gene from the father and the mother, in which case chances of the baby being born with genetic disorders will be higher, mental and or physical. If the baby is born healthy, then the father and mother may not carry the gene or the baby did not inherit it.
In Bradford, one of the largest Pak communities in Britannia, 75% of Paks marry their first cousins, anywhere between 4 and 10% of the children in these families will be born with genetic abnormalities, these illnesses are often fatal.
One-third of children with diseases caused by recessive genes will die before they turn five.
More than 70 published British scientific studies have shown that cousin marriages lead to an increased chance of having a child born with a rare genetic disorder. A significant number of these children will have serious kidney or liver problems. Many genetic and mental disorders are progressive with age and time and there is no permanent cure for these children.
| Deafness among Pakistani-Brit babies is a serious problem. |
Views of the younger generation have changed with education and knowledge, whereas about 20 years ago most people did not oppose consanguineous marriages. It is slowly becoming outdated.