Britain finds itself increasingly isolated on the global stage as countries from Norway to China ban first-cousin marriages. Yet, the practice remains legal across the United Kingdom despite mounting evidence of serious health risks to children.
The debate exploded into public consciousness when NHS guidance appeared to emphasise 'social benefits' of cousin marriage, triggering fierce backlash from health campaigners who point to stark statistics: children born to first cousins face a 10% lower chance of meeting normal developmental milestones and significantly higher rates of genetic disorders.
