A viral social media post by far-right activist Tommy Robinson has reignited a heated debate around cousin marriage, particularly within the British Pakistani community. In the video, Robinson calls for a nationwide ban on cousin marriage in the UK, citing controversial statistics linking the practice to birth defects and claiming it is a burden on the country’s healthcare system.
Robinson alleges that 76 per cent of Pakistanis in Bradford marry their first cousins and that British Pakistanis, who make up just 3 per cent of the UK population, are responsible for 33 per cent of genetic birth defects. He also connects the tradition to historical Islamic practices and insists cousin marriage is “never right,” demanding an outright ban by the British government.
Tommy Robinson tells it like it is:
— Dr. Maalouf (@realMaalouf) July 6, 2025
“Pakistanis make up 3% of the UK population. They are responsible for 33% of birth defects. They are being born retarded.
It’s costing the economy billions and billions because Mohammed married his cousin.”
Ban cousin marriage! pic.twitter.com/tP6FBsUzwP
Strong backlash and divided opinions
The post has drawn both support and widespread criticism online. Many users slammed Robinson’s video as racist and inflammatory, accusing him of using health concerns to push a xenophobic narrative. Others expressed concern over the genetic and healthcare implications of cousin marriage.
“This is a mix of distorted stats and open racism. If the concern is public health, fine. Focus on education and awareness, not hate,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Even AI chatbot Grok, developed by xAI, weighed in when asked to fact-check Robinson’s claims. The bot stated that the 76 per cent figure is exaggerated, referencing the “Born in Bradford” study. According to that research, around 60 per cent of marriages in Bradford between 2007 and 2010 were between cousins, and this figure dropped to 46 per cent between 2016 and 2019.
What the research says
While cousin marriage is legal in the UK, health experts do acknowledge an increased risk of genetic disorders in children born to first cousins. A BBC report based on data from Bradford found that:
- Children of first cousins had an 11 per cent chance of developing speech and language issues, compared to 7 per cent for children of unrelated parents.
- Only 54 per cent of these children reached key development stages by age five, compared to 64 per cent of those born to unrelated parents.
Across the UK, British Pakistanis are linked to 30–33 per cent of all genetic birth defects, according to data from the NHS and academic sources.
A 2022 report by DW cited a 2017 study linking Pakistan’s high rate of genetic disorders to its diverse ethnic makeup and strong tribal and caste systems, which often promote inter-family marriages. To date, more than 1,000 genetic mutations across 130 conditions have been documented in Pakistan.
