Sweden and Denmark are launching plans to ban marriages between cousins over fears the practice contributes to domestic violence and “oppression.”
On Wednesday, Stockholm officials recommended banning marriage between cousins after an investigation into the practice was carried out.
The research stated that there is a specific risk of girls and women suffering from “honour-related oppression” in these marriages.
A day later, Danish government leaders followed similar steps and declared that they would eventually ban marriages between cousins.
Both countries are following in the footsteps of their Scandinavian neighbors, Norway, which this summer banned marriages between close relatives, including cousins, uncles or aunts, and nieces or nephews.
In the midst of these decisions, some – like Sunday Times columnist Matthew Syed – believe a similar law should be introduced in the UK to “boost growth and reduce bloodshed”.
While the practice is uncommon in most UK communities, cousins can legally marry (file image)
Following the investigation, Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer argued that cousin marriage often led to a restriction of individual freedom.
He said: ‘The background is that honor-related violence and oppression is a major social problem. Too many people have their living space and fundamental freedoms restricted by oppressive rules of honor. In part these are marriages between cousins.
Anne Kuttenkeuler, vice president of the Svea Court of Appeal, shares this perspective and adds: “The collected material suggests that marriages between cousins are often arranged and that the decision about the marriage rests primarily with a family or clan and not with a choice individual”.
Swedish figures show that between 140 and 150 people were united with their cousins, but a judge suggested these figures were unreliable and the real figure could be higher.
“These are not reliable figures,” the judge said. “The contacts we have had with organizations that offer support and help to women subjected to honor oppression suggest that it is quite common.”
Upon hearing these conclusions, the Swedish government proposed a ban starting in July 2026.
The next day, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said her government also wanted to eventually ban marriages between cousins.
Speaking alongside Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, the leaders of the three coalition parties, Ms Frederiksen stated that it will take some time to prepare a law against cousin marriages .
‘This needs to be thought through carefully. “We know that marriages vary and have done so across generations, even in our own country,” he said.
‘Now we face new challenges in our country. Some people have come from outside and use marriage to oppress.’
There are no official figures on the number of cousin marriages in Denmark.
Following the investigation, Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer (left) argued that cousin marriage often led to a restriction of individual freedom. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (right) also wants to ban the custom.
On Wednesday, Stockholm officials (pictured) recommended banning cousin marriage after an investigation was carried out into the practice.
According to Anita Johnson, director of the NGO RED Center, which runs shelters for victims of violence and honor-related conflicts, the number is said to be low.
But Johnson said he supported the ban because it could help protect women against oppression and honor-related violence.
“I have the feeling that mixed families are coming back to Denmark,” he said.
While the practice is uncommon in most UK communities, cousins can legally marry.
According to academic research published in 2023, between 38 and 59 percent of British Pakistanis marry their first cousin, and an independent study by an Oxford University academic found that this rate may actually be increasing.
Writing in the Sunday Times, Syed encouraged the UK to ban this practice as well: “The UK should follow in Scandinavia’s footsteps and ban cousin marriage, but perhaps the most powerful measure would be to encourage developing nations to do so.” same”.
‘This will not be easy, given the vested interests of the patriarchs, but it would unleash prosperity that no amount of aid (often misappropriated in tribal societies) could achieve. “I think it is the game changer that much of our world, still divided by kin, clans and tribes, desperately needs.”