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Uzbekistan Set To Ban Cousin Marriages, Citing Birth Defects As Main Reason

Sirojiddin Toghaev is dependent on crutches, a wheelchair, or scooter to move around.

A resident of Uzbekistan’s southeastern Surkhondaryo region, he blames his health condition on being born in a consanguineous marriage.

“My father married his cousin, the daughter of his father’s sister,” he said. “It was arranged by my grandfather. My elder sister, Oibahor, and I were born with birth defects because our parents were blood relatives.”

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