The reality is that birth defects are three times as common for first-cousin marriages or 300 per cent more likely and should be expressed in this manner.
His attempt to downplay this is disingenuous. He also fails to mention other diseases more prevalent amongst populations of first cousin marriages such as autoimmune diseases where there is up to 100 times more frequency amongst first cousin marriages than the general population and in certain remote areas of Pakistan 1000 times more cases than the norm.
Studies in Jordan show a larger number of sporadic conditions are related to autosomal recessive aetiology with the chances of mental retardation and physical problems hitting 30 per cent of the consanguineous population.
So if his brother’s offspring marry a close relative the odds of an abnormal birth are extremely high, not just three times more than average.
The real elephant in the room is why when someone marries their cousin from one of these areas they always use the right of settlement here rather than the UK citizen moving to another country where it is culturally acceptable.
I suggest this is not coincidental with the reason for the marriage in the first place.
Nicholas Royall
Lindfield Rd
Eastbourne
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