Latest news with #BritishPakistanis
Economic Times
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
'Born retarded': Pakistanis responsible for 33% of birth defects in UK due to cousin marriages, claims viral post
A social media post has ignited debate over cousin marriage within the British Pakistani community. While studies acknowledge increased genetic disorder risks, critics condemn the post as racist and note declining rates of consanguineous marriage. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Children of first cousins had an 11% chance of being diagnosed with speech and language issues, compared to 7% for those whose parents are unrelated. They had a 54% chance of reaching a "good stage of development" by age five, compared to 64% for children of non-related parents. Around 60% of cousin marriages in 2007–2010 Declining to 46% by 2016–2019 UK-wide, Pakistanis are associated with around 30–33% of genetic birth defects, according to NHS and academic data. A viral social media post by far-right activist Tommy Robinson has reignited a contentious debate over cousin marriage practices within the British Pakistani community. The post features a video of Robinson citing controversial statistics and calling for a nationwide ban on cousin marriage in the UK, drawing both support and strong criticism the video, Robinson claims that 76% of Pakistanis in Bradford marry their first cousins and alleges that British Pakistanis—who make up around 3% of the UK population—account for 33% of birth defects in the country. He argues that this is a significant burden on the UK's healthcare system and attributes the cultural norm to historical Islamic goes further to call cousin marriage 'never right' and urges the British government to ban the practice outright. His comments have been widely condemned as inflammatory and racist by critics across social post has divided public opinion. Some users expressed concern over the potential genetic and economic impacts of consanguineous marriage . Others accused Robinson of distorting facts to promote a xenophobic agenda.'This is a mix of distorted stats and open racism... If the concern is public health, fine. Focus on education and awareness, not hate,' said one user on X (formerly Twitter).While cousin marriage is legal in the UK, public health experts acknowledge the increased risk of genetic disorders in children born to first cousins. A BBC report from February, citing a Bradford-based study, found that:The Grok AI fact-checker notes that the 76% figure cited by Robinson is likely exaggerated, referencing the Born in Bradford study , which reported:Cousin marriage is a long-standing tradition in many parts of South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. Within the UK, it's more common among immigrant communities, particularly British Pakistanis , as part of efforts to preserve wealth, property, and family critics argue that blaming a single ethnic or religious group for public health burdens oversimplifies the issue. Other key factors—like poverty, lack of healthcare access, and systemic inequality—also play a significant role.A 2022 DW article cited a 2017 report linking Pakistan's high rate of genetic mutations to its 'heterogenous composition' and deeply entrenched tribal and caste systems, which encourage inter-family marriages. Over 1,000 mutations across 130 genetic disorders have been documented in Pakistan to date.
News18
10-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
‘Pakistanis Marry 1st Cousins, Give Birth To Retard Kids': Viral Stats On UK Economy's ‘Burden'
Last Updated: UK far-right activist Tommy Robinson claims that '76 per cent of Pakistanis in Bradford marry their first cousins.' A video posted online featuring UK far-right activist Tommy Robinson has gained widespread attention. In it, he is claiming that cousin marriages within the British Pakistani community are responsible for a large share of birth defects in the UK. The video, filled with strong remarks and controversial statistics, has triggered intense backlash and debate across social media. In the video shared on X (formerly Twitter), Robinson claims that '76 per cent of Pakistanis in Bradford marry their first cousins." He further says that British Pakistanis, who make up around 3% of the UK's population, account for '33 per cent of birth defects." He blames the practice on Islamic history as he claimed that it puts pressure on the country's healthcare system. 'They are being born and retarded. It's costing us a fortune. It's costing the economy a fortune. It's billions and billions because Muhammad married his cousin. Well, don't care for what Muhammad did in the seventh century because he was a barbarian wall. It's no longer right. It's never been right, and it has to stop in Great Britain," he added. Tommy Robinson tells it like it is:'Pakistanis make up 3% of the UK population. They are responsible for 33% of birth defects. They are being born retarded. It's costing the economy billions and billions because Mohammed married his cousin." Ban cousin marriage! — Dr. Maalouf (@realMaalouf) July 6, 2025 One user wrote, 'This is a mix of distorted stats and open racism. Yes, cousin marriage can raise risks, but reducing an entire group to slurs like 'retarded' is vile. If it's about health, focus on awareness, not hate." Another comment pointed out, 'Stats stated are misrepresented." Grok Fact-Check When one user asked to verify Robinson's claims, Grok, an AI chatbot by xAI, said the 76 per cent figure for cousin marriages in Bradford is 'exaggerated." It cited the Born in Bradford study, which found that around 60 per cent of marriages were between cousins from 2007 to 2010, which dropped to 46 per cent by 2016–2019. But the AI citing UK NHS (National Health Service) and academic research confirmed that British Pakistanis, who roughly 3 per cent of the population, account for 30–33 per cent of genetic birth defects, which is linked to cousin marriages. The Bradford stat cited (76% of Pakistanis marrying first cousins) appears exaggerated; reliable studies like Born in Bradford (2007-2010) found ~60% consanguineous marriages in the community, dropping to 46% by 2016-2019. UK-wide, Pakistanis (~3% of population) account for…— Grok (@grok) July 6, 2025 What Research Says Earlier this year, a BBC report shared new data from the Born in Bradford study that tracked over 13,000 children between 2007 and 2010. More than one in six children in the study had parents who are first cousins, mostly from Bradford's Pakistani community. Researchers found that children of first cousins had a 6 per cent chance of inheriting a recessive disorder compared to 3 per cent in the general population. The study also observed speech development, school performance and other early childhood outcomes. Even after controlling for poverty and parental education, the study found that children of first cousins had an 11 per cent chance of being diagnosed with speech or language problems versus 7 per cent in other children. They were also less likely to meet key learning milestones by age five. They also found that a child of first cousins has a 54 per cent chance of reaching a 'good stage of development," which is a standard assessment given by the UK government to all five-year-olds, compared to 64 per cent for children whose parents are not related. UK Policy In the UK, cousin marriage is legal but debated. According to the BBC, conservative MP Richard Holden has proposed a bill to outlaw the practice, though the current government has said there are 'no plans" to do so. Instead, the UK follows a genetic counselling approach where first-cousin couples are educated about the risks of having children. Meanwhile, countries like Norway have already banned cousin marriage. Sweden plans to follow next year. About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at bring you stories on what's creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : pakistan UK viral news view comments First Published: July 10, 2025, 07:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Born retarded': Pakistanis responsible for 33% of birth defects in UK due to cousing marriages, claims viral post
A viral social media post by far-right activist Tommy Robinson has reignited a contentious debate over cousin marriage practices within the British Pakistani community. The post features a video of Robinson citing controversial statistics and calling for a nationwide ban on cousin marriage in the UK, drawing both support and strong criticism online. In the video, Robinson claims that 76% of Pakistanis in Bradford marry their first cousins and alleges that British Pakistanis—who make up around 3% of the UK population—account for 33% of birth defects in the country. He argues that this is a significant burden on the UK's healthcare system and attributes the cultural norm to historical Islamic practices. Robinson goes further to call cousin marriage 'never right' and urges the British government to ban the practice outright. His comments have been widely condemned as inflammatory and racist by critics across social media. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Simple Morning Habit for a Flatter Belly After 50! Lulutox Undo The post has divided public opinion. Some users expressed concern over the potential genetic and economic impacts of consanguineous marriage . Others accused Robinson of distorting facts to promote a xenophobic agenda. 'This is a mix of distorted stats and open racism... If the concern is public health, fine. Focus on education and awareness, not hate,' said one user on X (formerly Twitter). Live Events — realMaalouf (@realMaalouf) While cousin marriage is legal in the UK, public health experts acknowledge the increased risk of genetic disorders in children born to first cousins. A BBC report from February, citing a Bradford-based study, found that: Children of first cousins had an 11% chance of being diagnosed with speech and language issues, compared to 7% for those whose parents are unrelated. They had a 54% chance of reaching a "good stage of development" by age five, compared to 64% for children of non-related parents. The Grok AI fact-checker notes that the 76% figure cited by Robinson is likely exaggerated, referencing the Born in Bradford study , which reported: Around 60% of cousin marriages in 2007–2010 Declining to 46% by 2016–2019 UK-wide, Pakistanis are associated with around 30–33% of genetic birth defects, according to NHS and academic data. Cousin marriage is a long-standing tradition in many parts of South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. Within the UK, it's more common among immigrant communities, particularly British Pakistanis , as part of efforts to preserve wealth, property, and family ties. However, critics argue that blaming a single ethnic or religious group for public health burdens oversimplifies the issue. Other key factors—like poverty, lack of healthcare access, and systemic inequality—also play a significant role. A 2022 DW article cited a 2017 report linking Pakistan's high rate of genetic mutations to its 'heterogenous composition' and deeply entrenched tribal and caste systems, which encourage inter-family marriages. Over 1,000 mutations across 130 genetic disorders have been documented in Pakistan to date.
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First Post
01-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Why do so many British Pakistanis marry their cousins? Why is it a political issue now?
A ban on cousin marriages has divided the United Kingdom. It is not illegal to marry your first cousin in the country. Between 40 and 60 per cent of the British Pakistani community are estimated to be in consanguineous relationships. But why are there calls to outlaw the practice now? read more A debate on banning marriages between cousins has gripped the United Kingdom, where it is not illegal to marry your first cousin. However, the cultural practice has come under scrutiny in recent months. In December last year, Conservative MP Richard Holden introduced legislation in the UK Parliament, arguing 'the practice is not really conducive to modern British society.' He called for outlawing consanguineous marriages, pointing to 'serious concerns' about the health risks of children of couples who are biological relatives. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A large majority of Britons oppose such unions, a survey found in May. But many are against banning cousin marriages. But why? Let's take a closer look. Cousin marriages in the UK Marriage between cousins has been legal in the UK since the 16th century. Queen Victoria and Charles Darwin are among the prominent Britons who married their cousins. However, the practice later faded and became taboo as families became smaller and the awareness about genetic risks to babies born out of such unions grew. Despite this, cousin marriages are normal in some communities in the UK. Today, between 40 and 60 per cent of the British Pakistani community are in consanguineous marriages, Patrick Nash, an expert on religious law and director of the Pharos Foundation social science research group, said, according to The Week. Cousin marriages are also acceptable in certain parts of the world, including South Asia, West Asia and North Africa. An estimated 10 to 15 per cent of newborns have parents who are biological relatives, reported Deutsche Welle. The cultural practice is about securing wealth and property and keeping the family together. There is an 'optimistic assumption' that such unions would reduce the risk of rifts between in-laws, as per The Economist. 3/4th Britons want cousin marriages outlawed About 77 per cent of Britons believe first cousin marriage should be illegal, according to a YouGov poll in May. It also found that 47 per cent of British Pakistanis and Bangladeshis wanted the practice to be banned, while 39 per cent said it should be legal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Some 77 per cent of white and Indian Britons supported prohibiting cousin marriages, compared to 82 per cent of black Britons. Eight per cent of white Britons do not oppose consanguineous marriages. Six per cent of black Britons and nine per cent of Indian Britons said marrying your cousin should be legal. A political hot topic Cousin marriages were thrown into the limelight last December when Tory MP Richard Holden proposed a bill to ban first-cousin marriage in the UK. The legislation has been supported by Robert Jenrick, the runner-up in last year's Conservative leadership election. 'The British Pakistani community and, to a lesser degree, the Irish traveller community are removing themselves from wider society and closing themselves off,' Holden claimed. The second reading of the bill in the House of Commons is likely this month. Holden told DailyMail after YouGov's poll in May, 'The overwhelming majority of Brits, including those of Pakistan i heritage, want to see first cousin marriage banned. 'The fact Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party are standing in the way of ending an outdated practice rooted in misogynistic cultural practices shows that he's more interested in promoting cultural relativism than in ending practices that have no place in our country and isolate both individuals and communities from each other. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'If Starmer really believed in British values he'd back my bill, just like every community in Britain does.' Among the different reasons for those wanting a ban on cousin marriages, one is the health risks to kids born to parents who are related. As per a briefing on childhood deaths in Bradford, Birmingham and the London borough of Redbridge, '20-40 per cent' of them may be 'due to genetic disorders associated with consanguinity and chromosomal conditions", reported The Week. The Born in Bradford study found that a child with a first cousin is six per cent more likely to have a congenital health problem, compared to three per cent in the broader population. Kids born to parents who are biologically related may have health risks. Representational Image/Pixabay Joyce Harper, a professor in reproductive science at University College London, told BBC that the children born out of a consanguineous relationship could have genetic disease if both parents have faulty genes. 'The issue with cousins marrying is what we call recessive diseases, so things like cystic fibrosis and thalassaemia where both of the couple have to have an error in that same gene. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'So genetics is the main worry, but there are other risks, but it's still very low and I just don't think it's our right to dictate. I think it's our right to educate those communities.' As per a 2021 study, 55 per cent of British Pakistanis are married to first cousins. However, the practice has been on the decline. The Born in Bradford project, which studied 13,500 families between 2007 and 2011, found that 60 per cent of couples with Pakistani roots were either first cousins, second cousins or other blood relatives. But this figure plunged from 60 to 40 per cent in a follow-up study between 2016 and 2020. The rates of consanguineous marriage were around 30 per cent for couples of Pakistani heritage who were both born in the UK. Norway has banned cousin marriages, while Sweden and Denmark also plan a similar move. As this demand surfaces in the UK, many have warned that outlawing cousin marriages would stigmatise those who are already in such unions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Independent MP Iqbal Mohamed said earlier that such a ban would be ineffective and called for a 'more positive approach', such as advanced genetic tests for prospective married cousins. He also suggested education programmes to raise awareness of the health risks. Professor Dominic Wilkinson, an NHS neonatologist and ethics expert at the University of Oxford, has also opposed a ban on consanguineous marriages, calling it 'unethical'. Instead, he proposed offering special screening on the NHS to help such couples decide if they should consider having children. Nazir Afzal, a former chief prosecutor for north-west England, said last year that cousin marriage should remain legal, highlighting the falling rates. Politicising the issue would mean Muslims 'will be reluctant to talk about it and educate others if they think it's just a hammer which the far right would use to attack their communities', he said at a public debate. With inputs from agencies
Express Tribune
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
UK foreign secretary welcomes Pakistan-India ceasefire, says conflict serves no one
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy calls on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Friday, May 16, 2025. Photo: PID Listen to article British Foreign Secretary David Lammy hailed Pakistan and India for defusing tensions and agreeing to a ceasefire during meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on his official visit to Islamabad while stating that 'the conflict serves no one's interest'. Premier Sharif met Lammy on Friday at the Prime Minister's House, expressing satisfaction with the positive momentum in Pakistan–UK relations and reaffirming his commitment to further enhancing bilateral cooperation across all sectors. Reiterating Pakistan's strong commitment to the ceasefire agreement, the PM noted that Pakistan had demonstrated immense patience and restraint in response to India's baseless accusations and unprovoked aggression. He stressed that Pakistan's actions in exercising its right to self-defence were both proportionate and targeted. Highlighting Pakistan's unwavering resolve to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity at all costs, PM Sharif underscored the country's enduring desire for peace in South Asia. He also extended his best wishes to His Majesty King Charles III and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Read more: Greatest honour is forcing enemy to ceasefire: PM marks Youm-e-Tashakur This marks the first visit by a British foreign secretary to Pakistan since 2021. A statement from the British High Commission in Islamabad noted that Lammy welcomed the ceasefire, underscoring that peace and security form the foundation of the UK's relationship with Pakistan. Highlighting the importance of regional stability, Lammy praised efforts to end the long-standing hostility between Pakistan and India, calling the past few weeks 'distressing.' 'The past few weeks have been difficult for British Pakistanis and British Indians alike. We particularly welcome the ceasefire between British Pakistanis and British Indians,' he added. Referring to the heightened tensions after Pahalgam incident, he said the UK had made every effort to de-escalate the situation. 'Both India and Pakistan have agreed to stop hostilities, and the ceasefire remains in place.' Reaffirming the UK's commitment to counter-terrorism efforts and ensuring the continuation of the ceasefire, Lammy highlighted the long-standing cooperation between the UK and Pakistan in promoting regional peace and stability. Earlier, DPM Dar met with Lammy in Islamabad, warmly welcoming the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, according to a statement from the Foreign Office. Read more: Pakistan reaffirms support for China's territorial integrity in Zangnan Dar extended a cordial welcome to Lammy on his first official visit to Pakistan. The two leaders held detailed discussions on recent developments in South Asia, with a particular focus on the Pakistan–India ceasefire. The DPM informed the British foreign secretary of India's unprovoked and aggressive actions, condemning them as violations of Pakistan's sovereignty, international law, the United Nations Charter, and the principles of interstate relations. He maintained that Pakistan had exercised its right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter. According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, Dar appreciated the UK's constructive and positive role in reducing tensions. Both sides stressed the importance of restraint and sustained dialogue to ensure long-term peace and stability in the region. The meeting also addressed bilateral relations, with both parties expressing satisfaction over progress in trade, economic cooperation, and development partnerships. Dar lauded the UK's valuable support in the fields of education, healthcare, and climate resilience. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including climate change and sustainable development. They reiterated their resolve to strengthen the historic and long-standing ties between Pakistan and the UK, built on mutual respect, shared values, and strong people-to-people connections.
