Sweden and Denmark are both putting plans in place to ban marriages between cousins over fears the practice is contributing to domestic violence and ‘oppression’.
On Wednesday, officials in Stockholm recommend banning cousin marriage after an inquiry was held into the practice.
The investigation stated that there is a specific risk of girls and women facing ‘honor-related oppression’ in these marriages.
A day later, Danish Government leaders followed similar steps and stated they would eventually ban inter-cousin marriages.
Both countries are following in the footsteps of their Scandinavian neighbours Norway – who brought in a ban for marriages concluded between close relatives including between cousins, uncles or aunts, and nieces or nephews – this summer.
In the midst of these decisions, some – such as Sunday Times columnist Matthew Syed – believe a similar law should be brought into the UK to ‘boost growth and reduce bloodshed’.
Whilst the practice is uncommon for most communities in the UK, cousins are legally allowed to marry (file image)
Following the inquiry, Swedish Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer argued cousins marrying often led to a restriction in individual freedom.
He said: ‘The background is that honour-related violence and oppression are a major social problem. Far too many have their living space and fundamental freedoms restricted due to oppressive honour norms. Part of it concerns cousin marriages.’
Anne Kuttenkeuler, Vice President of the Svea Court of Appeal, shared this perspective, adding: ‘The material gathered suggests that cousin marriages are often arranged and that the decision on marriage primarily lies with a family or clan and not really an individual choice.’
Swedish figures show that around 140-150 people were in unions with their cousins, but a judge suggested these numbers were unreliable and that the actual number may be higher.
‘These are not reliable figures’, the judge said. ‘The contacts we have had with organisations that offer support and help women subjected to honour oppression suggest that it is quite common.’
Upon hearing these findings, the Swedish Government proposed a ban starting from July 2026.
The next day, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said her government also wanted to eventually ban inter-cousin marriages.
Speaking alongside Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen – the leaders of the three coalition parties – Ms Frederiksen stated a law against marriages between cousins will take some time to prepare.
‘This needs to be thought through carefully. We know that marriages vary and have done so across generations, even in our own country,’ she said.
‘We’re now facing new challenges in our country. Some people have come from outside and use marriages to oppress.’
There are no official figures on the number of marriages between cousins in Denmark.
Following the inquiry, Swedish Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (left) argued cousins marrying often led to a restriction in individual freedom. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (right) also wants to ban the custom
On Wednesday, officials in Stockholm (pictured) recommend banning cousin marriage after an inquiry was held into the practice
According to Anita Johnson, director of NGO RED Center, which runs shelters for victims of violence and honour-related conflicts, the number is said to be low.
But Ms Johnson said she supported a ban because it could help protect women against oppression and honour-related violence.
‘I have a feeling that inter-marriage families are making a comeback in Denmark,’ she said.
Whilst the practice is uncommon for most communities in the UK, cousins are legally allowed to marry.
According to academic research published in 2023, between 38 and 59 percent of British Pakistani’s marry their first cousin – with a separate study by an Oxford University academic finding that this rate may actually be rising.
Writing in the Sunday Times, Mr Syed encouraged the UK to also place a ban of the practice: ‘The UK should follow Scandinavia and ban cousin marriage, but perhaps the most powerful move would be to encourage developing nations to do the same.
‘This won’t be easy, given the vested interests of patriarchs, but it would unleash prosperity that no amount of aid (often embezzled in tribal societies) could touch. It is, I believe, the game-changer that so much of our world — still divided by kin, clan and tribe — desperately needs.’
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