Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Justice has drafted legislation that would ban marriages between distant blood relatives, including unions between uncles and nieces, aunts and nephews, and cousins up to the third degree, UzNews.uz reported.
The proposed penalties for violating the ban include fines or correctional labor of up to two years. Exceptions would apply only in cases where one of the prospective spouses is an adopted child and no biological relationship exists.
Under current law, Uzbekistan’s Family Code prohibits marriages between close blood relatives in a direct ascending or descending line, as well as between full and half-siblings and between adoptive parents and adopted children.
The proposal follows alarming findings from a recent study highlighting the genetic risks associated with consanguineous marriages. According to Zamin.uz, researchers from the Center for Advanced Technologies have identified dozens of new genetic mutations in Uzbek individuals.
The study revealed that every second child tested carried a hereditary mutation, and nearly 86% of children were found to be carriers of at least one damaged gene, twice the international average. Researchers attribute this trend to the high prevalence of kinship marriages, which in some Uzbek regions account for roughly one-quarter of all unions.
Experts warn that these genetic anomalies not only increase the likelihood of hereditary disorders but also elevate the risks of diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and cancer.
The study’s authors strongly recommend introducing genetic testing for couples prior to marriage as a public health measure.
