Sweden bans cousin marriages to combat honor-related oppression

Sweden has officially banned marriages between cousins, a move aimed at combating honor-related oppression and violence. The new legislation, which took effect on July 1st, also prohibits marriages between half-siblings and adopted siblings. This ban extends to cousin marriages that were legally contracted in other countries, meaning they will not be recognized in Sweden.

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For women, cousin marriages often mean strict control and demands for virginity, as the family wants to ensure its power.

However, unions formed before the ban's implementation date remain legally valid. Swedish officials, including the Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer and Minister for Gender Equality Nina Larsson, stated that cousin marriages often lead to strict control over women, including demands for virginity, as families seek to maintain control.

Law enforcement and prosecution authorities have confirmed that cousin marriages frequently appear in investigations involving violence and repression related to honor, as well as in crimes rooted in family ties. These unions are reportedly used to consolidate the influence of criminal networks, foster strong honor-bound structures, and contribute to social isolation. Arranged marriages within families are often not based on love or free will, and those who oppose them risk bringing shame upon their entire family.

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Police and prosecutors confirm that cousin marriages appear in investigations related to violence and honor-related repression, and in crimes based on family ties.

While an estimated one billion people worldwide live in cultures where cousin marriage is common, the exact number of such couples in Sweden is unknown. Official statistics list around 150 couples with traceable kinship, but this figure is considered unreliable as it only tracks relationships through two generations and does not account for earlier family lines from other countries. The issue of cousin marriage has long been a taboo subject in Sweden, with limited public discourse until recently.

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They are used to consolidate the influence of criminal networks, generate strong honor-bound structures, and cause social isolation.