A leader of the Pakistani community in Athens has called on the Greek government to change national family law to allow marriage between cousins, including first cousins. The request has sparked debate in Greece over marriage rules, cousins, and how far the state should go in accommodating cultural practices within a secular legal system.
Javed Aslam, who speaks on behalf of parts of the Pakistani diaspora in Greece, argues that existing law places his community at a disadvantage. He says the ban prevents families from maintaining customs that remain common in Pakistan and views the restriction as unequal treatment of migrant traditions.
Greek law, however, sets clear limits. Article 1356 of the Greek Civil Code bans marriage between close relatives up to the fourth degree. Legal scholars note that the rule reflects long-standing European legal development and modern public health considerations. The framework favors the nuclear family model and aims to reduce health risks linked to close-relative unions.
Legal framework in Greece and the debate over marriage between cousins
Critics of Aslam’s position say the demand goes beyond cultural expression and would require changes to Greece’s secular legal order. They argue that national laws are designed to apply equally to all residents, regardless of background, and are based on social and scientific standards developed over centuries.
The practice of cousin marriage has deep roots in parts of the Muslim world. In Islam, particularly within the Hanafi school followed by many Pakistanis, marriage between first cousins is permitted and often encouraged.
HOLY SHIT! It’s arrived in Greece.
Javed Aslaam, a Pakistani community leader in Athens, has called for thousands of Pakistanis to raise their voices so that COUSIN MARRIAGE, permitted under Islam, can be legalized in Greece. pic.twitter.com/3Nuzqw7h2x
— Paul Antonopoulos 🇬🇷🇨🇾 (@oulosP) February 6, 2026
The custom is widely used to keep property and family ties within extended households. In Pakistan, nearly 70 percent of marriages take place between relatives, according to long-cited demographic data.
The debate in Greece mirrors broader discussions across Europe. Several governments have recently reassessed family law in response to concerns within migrant communities.
European responses and public health concerns
Norway introduced a ban on first-cousin marriage in January 2025, citing efforts to reduce forced marriages. Denmark is preparing similar legislation, with a draft law expected to take effect in July 2026.
Public health data has also shaped the discussion elsewhere. In the United Kingdom, people of Pakistani origin account for a small share of total births but represent a much larger portion of children born with recessive genetic disorders. Medical experts say many such conditions are preventable and place significant pressure on public health systems.
Some academics and advocacy groups frame the Greek debate as a question of cultural identity and religious freedom. Others counter that protecting children’s health and preserving uniform civil law must remain the priority.
