WUNRN
14-August-09
Despite
all efforts by government, the tradition of marriage between close relatives
remains strong in Uzbekistan.
Although medical experts warn against cosanguinous marriage, which is banned by
law, many people in Uzbekistan believe it makes for more lasting unions and
helps preserve the family lineage
The Tashkent regional department of justice recently held a seminar to
publicise the dangers of marriage between close kin. Organisers warned of the
increased danger of passing on hereditary diseases and harming the nation’s
health.
However, NBCentral Asia observers say the public awareness campaign is not
proving effective as offficals turn a blind eye to something which they regard
as a private family affair.
Marriages of this kind, typically between first cousins, are generally
advocated by people of the older generation, in rural areas where the clan
structure is retained. A typical cosanguinous marriage will involve members of
the same clan and tribe.
A code of family law introduced in 1998 forbids marriages between “siblings,
first and second cousins, and uncles or aunts with nieces or nephews”.
In practice, the law is ignored.
“I know many families where the spouses are first cousins – it’s quite common
here,” said an observer from the eastern city of Andijan.
One of the reasons why the tradition continues into the modern age, say
experts, is economic.
High levels of poverty create an incentive to avoid the massive expenditure
that regarded as obligatory for weddings. As in other Central Asian countries,
marriage in Uzbekistan requires hospitality for large numbers of people, gifts
and the payment of a substantial “bride price” by the groom’s family.
With a marriage within the extended family, these costs, such as the bride
price, can be greatly reduced by common agreement.
“Parents want to protect the newlyweds from the financial problems facing many
Uzbek families,” said Rano, a consultant on family relationships in Tashkent.
“It’s always easier for family members, especially brothers and sisters [whose
children are marrying], to come to an arrangement.”
It is common for related families to “exchange” sons and daughters, and then
hold both weddings together in order to save costs.
Another factor is reluctance to marry out of the extended family or clan.
Families are reluctant to conclude ties with outsiders.
“Uzbeks have a saying, which is often heard at weddings: ‘We have given our
daughter away not to strangers, but to our own.’ This is the psychological
reasoning,” said an expert on Uzbekistan. “It is considered appropriate when a
mother marries off her daughter to her brother”.
Komila, 19, from Margilan in the Fergana valley, married Abdusalom, her uncle
by blood, two years ago, and says she is content with the arrangement.
“I’ve known him since childhood and know all his good and bad traits,” she
said. “I don’t care that he’s 13 years older than me. On the contrary, that’s
very good, since such an inexperienced woman like me needs a mature and
experienced man.”
Both of Komila’s sons are in perfect health. Others, however, are not so lucky,
and genetic disorders are common.
A doctor at a mother-and-child clinic in Tashkent says many children born of
cosanguinous marriages suffer from cystic fibrosis.
“We have families where the first, second and third child are all sick,” added
the doctor.
Munira, a therapist from the western city of Samarkand, says when two parents
pass on the same gene, hereditary diseases can become more likely.
“If the genes match, the child can have various diseases or deformities”, says
the doctor.
No data is available on how many of the 250,000 weddings each year are
cosanguinous.
In 2000, President Islam Karimov proposed a system where the civil registration
authorities would track applications for cosanguinous marriage, but his
recommendation has not been acted on.
“The authorities turn a blind eye to the problem, as they themselves are part
of a society that looks favourably on marriages between close relatives,” said
an observer in Uzbekistan.
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