Bradford is Very Inbred': Inbreeding Among British Muslims
Senin, 30 Mei 2011 by Android Blackberry
Bradford is very inbred': Muslim outrage as professor warns first-cousin marriages improve risk of birth defects
Inbreeding among British Muslims is threatening the wellness of their youngsters, a leading geneticist warned yesterday.
Professor Steve Jones, from University College London, stated the common practice in Islamic communities for cousins to marry each other increased the risk of birth defects.
‘There could be some evidence that cousins marrying one another could be harmful,’ he told an audience at the Hay Festival.
‘We need to be concerned about that as there can be many hidden genetic harm. Kids are much more likely to obtain two copies of a damaged gene.
‘Bradford is pretty inbred. There is a large quantity of cousins marrying one another there.’
Studies have shown that 55 per cent of British Pakistanis are married to very first cousins - and in Bradford, this rises to 75 per cent
Other analysis has discovered that young children of first cousins are ten times more likely to have recessive genetic disorders and face deafness, blindness and infant mortality.
But Prof Jones’s comments provoked anger among some Muslim groups yesterday.
Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the Ramadhan Foundation, which promotes the image of Muslims in Britain, stated: ‘I know several Muslims who have married their cousins and none of them have had a challenge with their children.
‘Obviously, we do not want any children to be born disabled who do not need to be born disabled, so I would advise genetic screening just before first cousins marry.
'But I uncover Steve Jones’s comments unworthy of a professor. Employing language like “inbreeding” to describe cousins marrying is entirely inappropriate and further demonises Muslims.’
Concern about the risks to children from first-cousin marriage has been described as the last terrific taboo.
Former environment minister Phil Woolas was rebuked by Downing Street in 2008 for saying British Pakistanis are fuelling rates of birth defects by marrying their cousins, with the spokesman for then prime minister Gordon Brown saying the problem was not one for ministers to comment on.
Mohammed Saleem Khan, chief executive of the Bradford Council for Mosques, said: ‘It is crucial to discuss these problems, but I just do not know of any firm evidence backing up Professor Jones’s claims. I believe we want a lot more conclusive studies so we can know for particular if there is certainly any genuine risk.
‘Marriages between cousins is surely typical inside south Asia, however it is becoming less so in Britain and also in Bradford. Islam allows you to marry any person you want, so in many ways Islam promotes diversity.’
In his talk, Prof Jones stated inbreeding was not confined to Muslims, and historically had occurred in just about every part of society, which includes the royal family.
He stated: ‘We are all much more incestuous than we realise. In Northern Ireland plenty of persons share the very same surname, which suggests a high level of inbreeding.
‘There’s many surname diversity in London but if you take a look at the Outer Hebrides you will discover rather fewer surnames in relation to the number of people.’
Inbreeding among British Muslims is threatening the wellness of their youngsters, a leading geneticist warned yesterday.
Professor Steve Jones, from University College London, stated the common practice in Islamic communities for cousins to marry each other increased the risk of birth defects.
‘There could be some evidence that cousins marrying one another could be harmful,’ he told an audience at the Hay Festival.
‘We need to be concerned about that as there can be many hidden genetic harm. Kids are much more likely to obtain two copies of a damaged gene.
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| Professor Steve Jones, from University College London, said the common practice in Islamic communities for cousins to marry each other increased the risk of birth defects |
‘Bradford is pretty inbred. There is a large quantity of cousins marrying one another there.’
Studies have shown that 55 per cent of British Pakistanis are married to very first cousins - and in Bradford, this rises to 75 per cent
Other analysis has discovered that young children of first cousins are ten times more likely to have recessive genetic disorders and face deafness, blindness and infant mortality.
But Prof Jones’s comments provoked anger among some Muslim groups yesterday.
Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the Ramadhan Foundation, which promotes the image of Muslims in Britain, stated: ‘I know several Muslims who have married their cousins and none of them have had a challenge with their children.
‘Obviously, we do not want any children to be born disabled who do not need to be born disabled, so I would advise genetic screening just before first cousins marry.
'But I uncover Steve Jones’s comments unworthy of a professor. Employing language like “inbreeding” to describe cousins marrying is entirely inappropriate and further demonises Muslims.’
Concern about the risks to children from first-cousin marriage has been described as the last terrific taboo.
Former environment minister Phil Woolas was rebuked by Downing Street in 2008 for saying British Pakistanis are fuelling rates of birth defects by marrying their cousins, with the spokesman for then prime minister Gordon Brown saying the problem was not one for ministers to comment on.
Mohammed Saleem Khan, chief executive of the Bradford Council for Mosques, said: ‘It is crucial to discuss these problems, but I just do not know of any firm evidence backing up Professor Jones’s claims. I believe we want a lot more conclusive studies so we can know for particular if there is certainly any genuine risk.
‘Marriages between cousins is surely typical inside south Asia, however it is becoming less so in Britain and also in Bradford. Islam allows you to marry any person you want, so in many ways Islam promotes diversity.’
In his talk, Prof Jones stated inbreeding was not confined to Muslims, and historically had occurred in just about every part of society, which includes the royal family.
He stated: ‘We are all much more incestuous than we realise. In Northern Ireland plenty of persons share the very same surname, which suggests a high level of inbreeding.
‘There’s many surname diversity in London but if you take a look at the Outer Hebrides you will discover rather fewer surnames in relation to the number of people.’
