Islamic Tradition and First Cousin, Uncles, and Nieces Marriage
Marriages Tumble in Islamic Azerbaijan as it Bans Cousin Marriages.
Azerbaijan bans unions between close relatives, and immediately, marriage numbers dropped by 54%. The amendment to the Family Code came into effect on July 1, 2025, and in that same month, marriages dropped from 5,032 in June, the month before, to 2,694 in July, the same month the ban took effect. These figures were published by local outlet Yeniavaz.
Islamic culture is one of the few in the world where first cousins and blood relatives actively enter into holy matrimony. It is not illegal in many countries, including some Western ones; however, in practice, most people don’t engage in such unions, as the health risks are clearly understood. However, Islamic countries are at the top of the list with such unions, with countries like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Sudan, and Kuwait topping the list. In Pakistan, over 65% of all marriages are between blood relatives, whilst Saudi Arabia and Kuwait also see figures of over 50%.
Consanguinity—the practice of parents being blood relatives—raises the risk of autosomal recessive genetic disorders, which occur when a child inherits two copies of a harmful gene from their parents. This can lead to a range of health issues, including congenital disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and specific metabolic and neurological disorders. Additionally, consanguinity can increase the risk of infant mortality and stillbirths, potentially affecting overall health and genetic resilience within communities.
The Middle East is the “Belt of Consanguinity.” Aside from the countries already mentioned, Iran, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates also have substantial consanguineous marriage rates. The numbers are also high in North African Islamic countries, such as Libya and Mauritania, where the figures exceed 40%. In India, some Islamic communities have figures reaching 30%. However, this phenomenon is mainly only recorded in Muslim communities, which begs the question: Does Islam promote first-cousin union? If so, does it defy the concept of God (Allah) being omniscient for failure to see the health risk involved in such matrimony?
Some people in Azerbaijan have protested the law, with critics saying that it intrudes on personal choice and tradition. Despite the ban, marriages between blood relatives are still widely accepted in the country. Islamic countries have the highest rate of congenital disabilities due to the prevalence of consanguineous marriages. In the UK, the Pakistani community have over 30% of congenital disabilities compared to the average for their White counterpart of just 3%.
By Ikechukwu ORJI
