The Swedish government has drafted a bill that bans marriages between first cousins and refuses to recognize such marriages outside the kingdom, the government office said in a press release.
The aim of the initiative is to counter harassment related to the concept of honor.
"Violence and oppression based on honor are unacceptable in our society. It is easy to talk about zero tolerance, but it should also be reflected in legislation.
Protection of women and girls, particularly those living in conditions related to the notion of honor, must be strengthened in both criminal and civil law.
Banning marriage between cousins is an important measure to ensure everyone's right to decide their own lives," Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer said in a press release.
The text also notes that for girls and women, "cousin marriage" carries the risk of pressure for reasons of family honor, as well as social isolation and the strengthening of related structures based on kinship ties, including criminal structures.
