Ban on consanguineous marriages entered into force in Tajikistan

Almaty. July 1. Silkroadnews – Ban on consanguineous marriages entered into force in Tajikistan, Tajik telegraph agency (TajikTA) reported on Friday.

“As of July 1 the law forbidding marriage between close relatives and the law on compulsory medical examination for those going to marry come into force in Tajikistan,” representatives of Tajikistan’s parliament reported.

Due amendments have been made to the “Law on civil status registration” and the Family Code of Tajikistan. These laws are aimed to protect the health of the nation and genetic resources.

According to the standards approved in Tajikistan, a medical examination of young people before marriage will be free of charge, as well as the appropriate consultations in this regard. In case of infectious diseases finding the law requires those planning to marry to take a full course of treatment first. Marriage is allowed only after recovery.
It should be noted, earlier the Family Code of Tajikistan also provided for such a medical examination, it was not mandatory though.

From now on it is prohibited to marry cousins, and also the marriages are banned between uncles and aunts with their nieces and nephews.

The practice of marriages between close relatives is widespread in Tajikistan, especially in country’s mountainous and rural areas.

According to Tajikistan’s ministry of health, about 30-35% of disabled children are born in families where parents are in a close relationship, which became a subject of serious concern for the authorities and facilitate the adoption of appropriate amendments to the laws mentioned.

For example, there are more than 26 thousand children with disabilities registered in Tajikistan, 35% of their families formed by close relatives, another 10-20% are children whose parents suffered from infectious diseases.