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There is an expression which is commonly used in parts of Asia and the Arab world, suggesting that marrying a first cousin is a match made in heaven. |
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Mazar, not his real name is a British Pakistani, and married to his first cousin. |
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Two of Mazar's five children are severely ill with matching health problems, which also run in his extended family, who live in northern England. |
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He says the majority of his relatives followed the same marriage tradition. |
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"When she was born she had liver disease. When she had her first liver transplant, that got rejected. “ |
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And then she had a second liver transplant while she was still there. And then my son was born and he had exactly the same problem." |
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General practitioner Dr Rizwan Alidina from Birmingham says the practice has been common for centuries, as a means to preserve family wealth. |
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He does not believe, however, in passing legislation, banning traditions observed by a specific group of people. |
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He's an advocate for the power of education. |
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"If you go down the legislation route, you get non-engagement, “ |
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But if you actually start looking at educating and being able to give informed consent choices, because, remember, that these people getting married are adults." |
| [01:13.54] |
Even though the infant mortality rate within the Pakistani community is high, the risk of developing other severe illness is even higher, indicating that a healthier future should perhaps come from within. |
