A committee formed by the Swedish government believes there should be a ban in Sweden, as it is already banned in Norway, and now Denmark wants to implement it as well.
The three ruling parties in Denmark want to ban marriage between first cousins.
Analysis: The governing parties hold a near-majority in the Danish parliament and can therefore pass resolutions after discussing them with other parliamentary parties. Since the idea relates to "combating social control and the culture of honor" within immigrant communities and among their descendants, this ban is expected to find support from at least the right-wing (blue) parties and pave the way for its enactment into law in Denmark. – Asma Abbas
According to TV2, cousin marriages should be banned in Denmark, according to the three ruling parties: the Social Democrats, the Venstre Liberals, and the Moderates.
These announcements come after a committee formed by the Swedish government to look into the region recommended banning cousin marriage in Sweden from the summer of 2026. Cousin marriage is often seen in certain immigrant groups.
Mohammed Runa, the Moderate Party's immigration and integration spokesperson, sees no justification for allowing cousin marriage: "Now Norway has banned it, and Sweden is doing so. Therefore, it is perfectly legitimate for us in Denmark to also find an opportunity to follow our Nordic neighbors. Denmark must not become a 'hotbed' for such marriages, so I am very open to seeing what we can do about this problem," according to Mohammed Runa in a written response to TV2.
As also believed by the Social Democratic Party's rapporteur on migration and integration, Fredrik Vad -Whose name has recently been associated with anti-immigrant statements regarding integration standards- Marriage between first cousins helps maintain social control: “It is not widespread in our culture, but it is very widespread in cultures with roots in the Middle East and North Africa. It is a problem.”.
Fredrik Vad, a social democrat, doesn't know the extent of this problem in Denmark, but he says he repeatedly encounters "examples" in his work as a rapporteur for immigration and integration: "Often, the obvious choice, when you're arranging marriages for your children, is to match with your cousin. It presents huge challenges, both socially and biologically. Fredrik Vad says it's something we must have killed.".
In the Liberal Party, Hans Andersen, the spokesperson for immigration and integration, says he also wants to impose a ban: “I am very open to considering a ban, especially if it is related to forced marriage and negative social control. In Denmark, we do not keep records of first cousin marriages, so this matter needs further investigation,” Hans Andersen wrote in a written response to the source.
Sweden and Norway have acted
In Norway, marriage between cousins was banned this summer, but there is no similar ban in the EU countries, i.e. not in Denmark either.
In Sweden, marriage between half-siblings may be permitted, while marriage between first cousins will be prohibited.
In Sweden today, marriage to a daughter or son is prohibited, as is marriage to a brother. On the other hand, you can get an exemption if you wish to marry a half-sister or half-brother.
There is no prohibition against cousin marriage. A Swedish government committee has been investigating the matter since September 2023, and it issued its recommendations on Tuesday.
- The background is that honor-related violence and oppression is a major societal problem, Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strömer said of the commission's inquiry on Tuesday.
- Many people's lives and basic freedoms have been curtailed as a result of oppressive standards of honor. He said that part of this relates to cousin marriage.
According to the Swedish investigation, women and girls in particular, in relation to marrying one of their cousins, enter into a relationship with oppression and violence related to honor.
The committee also believes that first cousin marriages are often arranged. There is no question of the couple's freedom of choice.
