MP’s call to ban cousin marriage is biased | Letter

I find it intriguing that a Conservative former minister, Richard Holden, has called for cousin marriage to be banned in Britain. He argues that the practice threatens women’s freedom and leads to birth defects. Medical evidence shows that although the risk of birth defects is relatively higher in children born to consanguineous parents, the absolute risk remains low. In fact, the absolute risk increase is comparable to factors such as older maternal age, obesity and smoking – but there are no calls to ban these.

As a GP at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability in London, I treat patients with genetic conditions ranging from Down syndrome to rare mitochondrial and genetic diseases. None of my patients were born to consanguineous parents.

I would also point out the historical inconsistency in the values ​​being defended – Holden does not mention that cousin marriage was once a common practice among the British aristocracy. I believe that grouping the entire Pakistani community as subject to a “clan mentality‘ humiliates them and highlights Holden’s intolerance.

As an elected Member of Parliament, Holden has a responsibility to bring communities together rather than alienating them based on prejudice and intolerance. I wish he would focus on more pressing issues, both domestic and international.
Dr. Qurratul-Ain Rehman
New Malden, London