Original version

BBC One

BBC One Cambridgeshire

Should I Marry My Cousin?

Simulcast of network BBC One in high definition. From 03/11/2010

BBC One HD

The BBC West region started on 1st September 1957 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One West.

BBC One West

Simulcast of BBC One Scotland in high definition. From 14/01/2013

BBC One Scotland HD

The BBC South West region started on 20th April 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South West.

BBC One South West

The BBC South region started on 5th January 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South.

BBC One South

Simulcast of BBC One Northern Ireland in high definition. From 24/10/2012

BBC One Northern Ireland HD

BBC One London

London

Simulcast of BBC One Wales in high definition. From 29/01/2013

BBC One Wales HD

BBC One West Midlands

BBC One region covering Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

BBC One East Midlands

The BBC East region started on 1st May 1959 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One East.

BBC One East

BBC One North West

The BBC North East & Cumbria region started in 1959 (tbc) as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One North East & Cumbria.

BBC One North East & Cumbria

BBC One Yorkshire

BBC One Oxfordshire

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region that included London and part of the South region. Separated from BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One South East

BBC One Channel Islands

BBC One Yorks & Lincs

BBC One Scotland

Scotland

BBC Northern Ireland region started on 19th April 1955 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One Northern Ireland.

BBC One Northern Ireland

BBC One Wales

Wales

Hiba Maroof

Roeland Doust

Holly Lubbock

Narinder Minhas

Hannah Melia

Sugar Films

Documentaries

Factual: Families & Relationships

07/09/2017

BBC Three - Should I Marry My Cousin?

Teenager Hiba explores the controversial but legal custom of first-cousin marriage.

Documentary in which 18-year-old Hiba explores the controversial but legal custom of first-cousin marriage, which has taken place in her own family for generations.

In this provocative and personal documentary, 18-year-old Bradford-born Hiba explores the controversial but legal custom of first-cousin marriage. It's a practice which has gone on within her own family for generations, and as she reaches adulthood, she faces a massive dilemma - deciding whether to follow her culture and marry a cousin or go her own independent way.

Exploring the health impacts that first-cousin marriage can have and the arguments for and against, Hiba finds out if it is possible to fancy and desire such a close relative before testing if this something she could do herself.

In Britain, where cousin marriage has been legal for over 400 years, first-cousin marriage is often considered taboo. However, in one community - the British Pakistanis - 55 per cent of young people marry their first cousin. And in Bradford, where Hiba comes from, that figure is 70 per cent.

Although she's only 18, Hiba is already talking to her family about marriage. For them, first-cousin marriage is the norm, and some members of the family are especially keen for her to continue the tradition. Her uncle Younis is in favour - four out of five of his own children are in cousin marriages. Her dad Maroof is on the fence and her mum Nuzhat is very much against it, but both have said they will support Hiba in whatever decision she makes.

At the moment Hiba is single, and because all her first cousins have married each other, her only hope of a family match would be with a second or third cousin from Pakistan. So, should Hiba marry a cousin? In this informative, authentic and life-changing film, Hiba is about to find out.

BBC Three

A multi-platform service for 16-34s, featuring comedy, entertainment and factual content.

The BBC’s multi-platform service for 16 to 34s, innovating with breakthrough comedy, stand-out entertainment, brave documentary and intellectual factual content.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Should I Marry My Cousin?

Contributors

Genres

Formats

BBC One Cambridgeshire

About BBC One