The end of cousin marriages in Austria?
Adil and Halima grew up side by side in a small Syrian village, playing together and attending the same school. They are cousins, and their marriage was traditional in their family. When Halima turned 13, she began wearing the hijab even in front of Adil, because "a woman must cover her hair in front of any man who could marry her," she says.
After two years, her cousin proposed to her, and they got married when she was fifteen years old, as she confirms, of her own free will. The couple now lives with their three children in one room in the Meidling district of Vienna. However, this type of marriage may soon be banned in Austria.
The Austrian government, composed of the ÖVP, SPÖ, and Neos parties, plans to ban marriage between first cousins, according to a report by the newspaper "Falter." A similar proposal was raised during the Türkis-Grün coalition but was not approved at that time. The stated goal of this ban is to reduce cases of forced marriage and minimize genetic risks to children. However, this law could significantly impact communities originating from countries with a Muslim majority, where cousin marriage is considered part of social customs.
In countries like Pakistan, Iraq, and Syria, marriages within the family are common, often driven by considerations of trust and family stability. However, this familial closeness can have another side. Halima says, "When I argue with my husband, I call my uncle and he scolds him." But she also adds, "When we disagree, everyone in the family knows immediately."
Although the marriage was done at her request, the question remains: Is it really possible for a girl at the age of 15 to make a significant decision like marriage freely? In Austria, marriage is currently allowed from the age of 16, provided there is parental consent and court approval, but the minimum age is expected to be raised to 18 as part of a package of measures against forced marriage.
The genetic aspect also concerns the government, as Professor Markus Hengstschläger, a genetics expert, states that the likelihood of children developing genetic diseases in the case of first cousins marrying doubles compared to non-related marriages.
Despite this, Adil and Halima believe that the proposed ban is exaggerated. According to Adil: "If people want it, why the prohibition?" Meanwhile, Halima says that their three children are healthy, despite knowing of children who were born with ailments in their village previously. Voices from ethics experts warn against imposing a legal ban. Christian Drummel, chair of the National Bioethics Committee, states: "All parents wish for healthy children, but enforcing that by law could be discriminatory."
The alternative proposed by some parties is awareness, such as providing genetic counseling for couples who are relatives. However, imposing a ban could lead to counterproductive results and reinforce feelings of discrimination. Opponents of the ban see it as a symbol of cultural conflict, rather than a measure to protect women. The FPÖ party, during its 2024 election campaign, called for "repatriation" and considered cousin marriage as a manifestation of "reactionary anti-woman thinking in Islam," which organizations like Orient Express view as a dangerous generalization.
Even the Catholic Church had prohibited this type of marriage in the Middle Ages, not for medical reasons, but to curb the power of influential families. Today, the question returns: who decides whom we love and marry – the state or individuals?
The daughter of Adil and Halima, Amira, is now four years old, and her parents will not face any legal repercussions from the upcoming ban, but their daughter's future will be governed by a different law. The parents say they do not wish for Amira to marry one of her relatives, but they add, "If she wants to – why not?"