On Wednesday, January 13, the Tajik parliament announced that as of this day, marriage among close relatives in the country, considered one of the main causes of congenital defects in children, is prohibited. According to the Tajik section of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, from now on, the children of uncles, aunts, maternal uncles, and maternal aunts are not allowed to marry each other. Tajik officials have not specified what the penalties for such marriages will be, but the newly passed law states that pre-marital examinations are mandatory, and if the results of these examinations are negative, these individuals will not be granted the right to marry. Nasrullah Salimzoda, the Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Population of Tajikistan, stated in his speech in parliament that by January 1 of this year, more than 25,000 cases of congenital defects had been registered in Tajikistan, with 30 to 35 percent of them resulting from marriages among close relatives. Emomali Rahmon, the President of Tajikistan, recently mentioned in a parliamentary speech that 'about 13,000 children with diseases and congenital defects in Tajikistan depend on state support.' According to him, many of these disabilities and diseases result from marriages among relatives. The new decision by the Tajik parliament has sparked both support and opposition from various groups in the country. According to the Tajik section of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Qabljan Baev, the former head of the Fatwa Department of the Tajikistan Ulema Council, emphasized that marriage among relatives is not prohibited in Islam and added that 'even the Prophet of Islam married his child to his cousin.' Marriages among relatives have a long history in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, while among neighboring ethnic groups, such as the Kyrgyz and Kazakhs, the kinship ties of the bride and groom are examined up to seven generations before marriage, and if such a connection exists, the marriage does not take place.
Marriage Among Close Relatives Banned in Tajikistan
Tajikistan has banned marriages among close relatives, citing health concerns related to congenital defects. The law mandates pre-marital examinations, and penalties for violations are yet to be defined. This decision has elicited mixed reactions within the country.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Tajikistan's parliament has enacted a law banning marriages among close relatives due to health concerns related to congenital defects. The law requires pre-marital health examinations, although penalties for violations have not yet been defined.
- Over 25,000 cases of congenital defects were reported in Tajikistan, with a significant percentage linked to consanguineous marriages.
- The law has sparked mixed reactions, with some supporting it for health reasons and others opposing it on cultural and religious grounds.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Marriages among close relatives are common in some Central Asian cultures, often leading to genetic health issues. This law represents a significant cultural shift towards prioritizing public health.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%