UK’s NHS Tiptoes Around Islamic Practices, Praises Cousin Marriages for “Family Benefits”

Credits: inf.news

The UK’s National Health Service has just withdrawn a training guide that oddly celebrated the “social and economic benefits” of cousin marriage, a practice mostly practiced in Islamic communities like British Pakistanis. The training guide was for health care professionals and downplayed serious genetic risks while framing the issue in an oddly positive light.

Critics are saying this is just another sign of UK institutions refusing to tell uncomfortable truths to be respectful of cultural sensitivities. Rather than being clear and direct to educate on public health, the NHS seemed more focused on “understanding” traditions, even risky ones, for the good of the people, rather than being concerned about protecting people.

To many, it looks less like inclusion and more like normalization pushed through quietly. When a department of state health softens language generated through adjudication around cousin marriage to not offend a specific community, it raises serious questions: Are Western institutions foregoing scientific integrity for cultural accommodation?

And more directly: how far does this go?

References:

https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/nhs-withdraws-first-cousin-marriage-guidance-after-highlighting-benefits-despite-known-genetic-1745908