The new family law in Sweden has officially come into effect and establishes a total and unconditional ban on marriages between cousins throughout the national territory.
The regulation, which was unanimously approved by the Swedish parliament, also extends restrictions to other close kinship relationships, marking a significant tightening of the country's marriage legislation.
With the implementation of this reform, marriages between nieces and uncles, as well as between aunts and nephews, are also prohibited.
Sweden banned marriages between cousins
In turn, the law even eliminates the possibility of granting exceptions in cases that could previously be evaluated, such as marriages between half-siblings or between adopted siblings.
One of the central points of the new regulation is that Sweden will stop recognizing marriages between cousins celebrated abroad.
This measure aims to prevent citizens or residents from evading national restrictions by traveling to other countries to marry and then seeking legal validation upon their return.
According to Swedish authorities, the main objective of these reforms is to prevent forced marriages and counteract oppression and coercion related to "honor" within families in certain cultures.
Sweden banned marriages between cousins
In this regard, the government stated that the changes aim to strengthen protection against situations of violence, abuse, and family or cultural pressure.
The legislation, approved in June by parliament, explicitly prohibits marriages between close relatives, including first cousins. Additionally, it introduces new provisions that prevent the automatic recognition of unions made outside the country when they do not meet Swedish legal standards.
The debate over marriages between cousins has been growing in Sweden in recent years, both politically and publicly, especially following the arrival of thousands of illegal Muslim immigrants to the country.
With the entry into force of this law, Sweden consolidates a regulatory change that directly aims to tighten controls over family unions and to prevent any legal evasion, both within and outside its borders.
