Mick Hartley

In my Sunday post on cousin marriages I assumed that the main reason for the practice being banned across Scandinavia was because of the increased risk of genetic defects. According to this piece from Swedish MP Fredrik Karrholm in the Spectator, there's more to it:

The reason for the move is the same in all the Nordic countries; within certain large immigrant communities, the practice of cousin marriage remains common. In parts of the Middle East and North Africa, up to half of all marriages are between relatives. Pakistan, which has a significant immigrant population in the UK, has one of the highest prevalence of cousin marriages in the world.

The Swedish minister of justice, Gunnar Strömmer, correctly argues that a ban could help combat marriages entered into under pressure or coercion. Cousin marriages are frequently arranged or forced. In some cases, refusing to go through with the marriage can result in violence or even so-called honour killings. By banning cousin marriages, the Swedish government aims to break the cycle of coercion and control rooted in these practices.

On top of the social issues tied to cousin marriages, the associated health risks are well documented. Studies have shown that children from cousin marriages have a significantly higher rate of congenital conditions, such as heart defects and developmental disabilities.

Despite cousin marriage being a well-known issue, for too long any debate on this subject has been shamefully sidelined. Addressing cousin marriage and its implications has been a sensitive subject here, and avoided in mainstream political discourse. Notably, the people to first and most clearly raise concerns about it come from immigrant backgrounds themselves. Former Swedish MP Hanif Bali, who was born in Iran, was one of the earliest voices to speak out against cousin marriage, and he has advocated for legislative change.

The criminal gangs, which have become such a problem now in Sweden, are often based on clan loyalties which derive from the institution of marriages arranged within a family. A ban on these marriages, it's hoped, may help to break those loyalties and thus weaken the power of the gangs.

Joseph Henrich, professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University, has found that cousin marriage doesn’t just affect family dynamics – it reshapes societies. His research shows that as cousin marriages declined in Europe, individualism grew. The western church’s crackdown on such unions laid the groundwork for liberal democracy by weakening tight family networks that thrived on loyalty. Instead, societies in the West nurtured values like cooperation with outsiders, trust in institutions, and civic responsibility.

In Sweden this is particularly relevant. Many criminal networks in Sweden are based on or benefit from tight-knit, clan-based loyalties. These families, bonded through marriage and blood, can undermine the state from within. By banning cousin marriage, the Swedish government can strike at the heart of this system, loosening the grip of clans and reducing their ability to operate above the law.

In the fight against organised crime this cultural shift could prove decisive. Not only could a ban on cousin marriage weaken organised crime, but it will also help preserve our open, fair, and law-abiding society.

In the end, this isn’t just about marriage; it’s about the foundations of democracy and the rule of law as we know it.