Muslim Inbreeding Taking a Toll on the Gene Pool

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A viral commentary that says "Islam is not only a religion; it's a way of life all the way around" and alleges that followers are permitted to marry first cousins. It goes on to claim that after 1400 years of inbreeding it has resulted in irreversible damage to the Muslim gene pool. Today Muslims are plagued with with problems such as decrease night vision, dim memories and a high probability of recessive genetic disorders.

iRumorMill.com Determination: Mostly Real

In his book, The Islamic Invasion, Christian Apologist Dr. Robert Morey, describes Islam as a deification of a 4th century Arabic lifestyle. Many who are Christians are going to agree with the allegation of Islam being a way of life.

The Quran, the book which Muslims abide by, allows Muslims to marry cousins.

Chapter chapter 4 verse 23 states:
Prohibited to you [for marriage] are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your father's sisters, your mother's sisters, your brother's daughters, your sister's daughters, your [milk] mothers who nursed you, your sisters through nursing, your wives' mothers, and your step-daughters under your guardianship [born] of your wives unto whom you have gone in. But if you have not gone in unto them, there is no sin upon you. And [also prohibited are] the wives of your sons who are from your [own] loins, and that you take [in marriage] two sisters simultaneously, except for what has already occurred. Indeed, Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful.

According to a May 29, 2011, article by the U.K.'s Daily Mail, "one of Britain’s most eminent scientists, has warned that the level of inbreeding among the nation’s Muslims is endangering the health of future generations." Prof Steve Jones is a geneticist, who said, "It is common in the Islamic world to marry your brother’s daughter, which is actually closer than marrying your cousin." Jones added, "We should be concerned about that as there can be a lot of hidden genetic damage. Children are much more likely to get two copies of a damaged gene."
Jones cited documented research from Bradford, a city located North East of Manchester and East of Leeds, where "babies born to Pakistani women are twice as likely to die in their first year as babies born to white mothers. The deaths, Jones said, the deaths were caused by "genetic problems linked to inbreeding identified as a 'significant' cause."

Bradford has a large Muslim population, which the Daily Mail said has seen "more than 70 per cent of marriages are between relations, with more than half involving first cousins."

So far, the research appears to be coming from England and there are Muslims all over the world. The iRumorMill will be keeping an eye out for any new findings that develop and will post them here.