The issue of inbreeding, particularly consanguineous marriages (marriage between cousins), has been a subject of concern within some communities, including parts of the british Muslim population. Consanguineous marriages are more culturally accepted in certain regions, such as South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, and this practice has carried over into immigrant communities in the UK.

Inbreeding, or close-relative marriages, can increase the risk of genetic disorders. This happens because when two people who are closely related have children, there is a higher likelihood that both parents carry the same recessive genes, which can result in genetic abnormalities. Research in the UK has indicated a higher incidence of congenital disabilities and genetic disorders among children born to parents in consanguineous marriages, particularly in communities where cousin marriages are more common.

Studies have shown that the rate of disabled children is disproportionately higher in certain ethnic groups, including british Pakistani Muslims, where cousin marriages are more prevalent. However, it is important to clarify that while these genetic risks are elevated in communities practicing consanguinity, it is inaccurate to suggest that the majority of disabled children in the UK are born to Muslim parents. The overall population of children with disabilities comes from diverse backgrounds, and the issue of inbreeding is not unique to the Muslim community but relevant in any community with high rates of cousin marriage.
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SIBY JEYYA

23/09/2024 09:51 AM