[00:00.54]There is an expression which is commonly used in parts of Asia and the Arab world, suggesting that marrying a first cousin is a match made in heaven.
[00:09.52]Mazar, not his real name is a British Pakistani, and married to his first cousin.
[00:14.39]Two of Mazar's five children are severely ill with matching health problems, which also run in his extended family, who live in northern England.
[00:23.06]He says the majority of his relatives followed the same marriage tradition.
[00:27.43]"When she was born she had liver disease. When she had her first liver transplant, that got rejected.   “
[00:34.05]And then she had a second liver transplant while she was still there. And then my son was born and he had exactly the same problem."
[00:42.44]General practitioner Dr Rizwan Alidina from Birmingham says the practice has been common for centuries, as a means to preserve family wealth.
[00:51.43]He does not believe, however, in passing legislation, banning traditions observed by a specific group of people.
[00:58.35]He's an advocate for the power of education.
[01:00.79]"If you go down the legislation route, you get non-engagement,   “
[01:03.91]But if you actually start looking at educating and being able to give informed consent choices, because, remember, that these people getting married are adults."
[01:13.54]Even though the infant mortality rate within the Pakistani community is high, the risk of developing other severe illness is even higher, indicating that a healthier future should perhaps come from within.