Latest news with #BritishPakistani
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Health study appeals for ethnic minority volunteers
Researchers are looking for British Bangladeshi and British Pakistani people for a study into the link between genes and health. It aims to understand and tackle the higher rates of heart disease, diabetes and cancer. The study, supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is looking for participants in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. Dr Nadeem Ahmed, study principal investigator at Melrose Surgery in Reading, said it was "a great opportunity" for residents "to help make a difference to health outcomes of their future generations". British Bangladeshi and British Pakistani people aged 16 and over are asked to provide a small saliva sample at participating GP practices and hospitals, complete a short questionnaire about their health and agree for Genes & Health to securely link to their NHS health data. They can also sign up online and be sent a saliva kit to complete at home. Volunteers will be asked to give their consent to be contacted again and some may be invited to take part in further studies based on information from their samples and NHS data. The study will contribute to analysing genetic differences and towards the development of new drug treatments that are safe and effective. It has already made important discoveries, including the identification of genetic factors specific to South Asian people that leads to earlier type 2 diabetes onset. Participants can withdraw at any time and samples and information are kept separate from personal details. Researchers said the study was working with people from Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities as "they are significantly underrepresented in genetic research, meaning that they may not benefit from research discoveries and new treatment". Dr Ahmed said she would request everyone from the two ethnic groups to participate, "just like some 65,000 people, who have already participated in the other parts of the country". The study is supported by the government-funded Medical Research Council and medial charity Wellcome Trust. Selected sites are open in towns and cities including Oxford, Reading and Aylesbury. The study aims to recruit 100,000 people living in England by the end of 2028. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Similar stories Why are ethnic minority groups falling behind on vaccines? No wi-fi is 'health barrier' for ethnic minorities Black communities asked to join health research Related Links Genes & Health National Institute for Health and Care Research
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
Health study seeks British Bangladeshi and Pakistani volunteers
Researchers are looking for British Bangladeshi and British Pakistani people for a study into the link between genes and aims to understand and tackle the higher rates of heart disease, diabetes and study, supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is looking for participants in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Nadeem Ahmed, study principal investigator at Melrose Surgery in Reading, said it was "a great opportunity" for residents "to help make a difference to health outcomes of their future generations". British Bangladeshi and British Pakistani people aged 16 and over are asked to provide a small saliva sample at participating GP practices and hospitals, complete a short questionnaire about their health and agree for Genes & Health to securely link to their NHS health can also sign up online and be sent a saliva kit to complete at will be asked to give their consent to be contacted again and some may be invited to take part in further studies based on information from their samples and NHS data. The study will contribute to analysing genetic differences and towards the development of new drug treatments that are safe and has already made important discoveries, including the identification of genetic factors specific to South Asian people that leads to earlier type 2 diabetes can withdraw at any time and samples and information are kept separate from personal said the study was working with people from Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities as "they are significantly underrepresented in genetic research, meaning that they may not benefit from research discoveries and new treatment".Dr Ahmed said she would request everyone from the two ethnic groups to participate, "just like some 65,000 people, who have already participated in the other parts of the country".The study is supported by the government-funded Medical Research Council and medial charity Wellcome sites are open in towns and cities including Oxford, Reading and study aims to recruit 100,000 people living in England by the end of 2028. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Economic Times
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
'Born retarded': Pakistanis responsible for 33% of birth defects in UK due to cousin marriages, claims viral post
A social media post has ignited debate over cousin marriage within the British Pakistani community. While studies acknowledge increased genetic disorder risks, critics condemn the post as racist and note declining rates of consanguineous marriage. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Children of first cousins had an 11% chance of being diagnosed with speech and language issues, compared to 7% for those whose parents are unrelated. They had a 54% chance of reaching a "good stage of development" by age five, compared to 64% for children of non-related parents. Around 60% of cousin marriages in 2007–2010 Declining to 46% by 2016–2019 UK-wide, Pakistanis are associated with around 30–33% of genetic birth defects, according to NHS and academic data. A viral social media post by far-right activist Tommy Robinson has reignited a contentious debate over cousin marriage practices within the British Pakistani community. The post features a video of Robinson citing controversial statistics and calling for a nationwide ban on cousin marriage in the UK, drawing both support and strong criticism the video, Robinson claims that 76% of Pakistanis in Bradford marry their first cousins and alleges that British Pakistanis—who make up around 3% of the UK population—account for 33% of birth defects in the country. He argues that this is a significant burden on the UK's healthcare system and attributes the cultural norm to historical Islamic goes further to call cousin marriage 'never right' and urges the British government to ban the practice outright. His comments have been widely condemned as inflammatory and racist by critics across social post has divided public opinion. Some users expressed concern over the potential genetic and economic impacts of consanguineous marriage . Others accused Robinson of distorting facts to promote a xenophobic agenda.'This is a mix of distorted stats and open racism... If the concern is public health, fine. Focus on education and awareness, not hate,' said one user on X (formerly Twitter).While cousin marriage is legal in the UK, public health experts acknowledge the increased risk of genetic disorders in children born to first cousins. A BBC report from February, citing a Bradford-based study, found that:The Grok AI fact-checker notes that the 76% figure cited by Robinson is likely exaggerated, referencing the Born in Bradford study , which reported:Cousin marriage is a long-standing tradition in many parts of South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. Within the UK, it's more common among immigrant communities, particularly British Pakistanis , as part of efforts to preserve wealth, property, and family critics argue that blaming a single ethnic or religious group for public health burdens oversimplifies the issue. Other key factors—like poverty, lack of healthcare access, and systemic inequality—also play a significant role.A 2022 DW article cited a 2017 report linking Pakistan's high rate of genetic mutations to its 'heterogenous composition' and deeply entrenched tribal and caste systems, which encourage inter-family marriages. Over 1,000 mutations across 130 genetic disorders have been documented in Pakistan to date.
News18
10-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
‘Pakistanis Marry 1st Cousins, Give Birth To Retard Kids': Viral Stats On UK Economy's ‘Burden'
Last Updated: UK far-right activist Tommy Robinson claims that '76 per cent of Pakistanis in Bradford marry their first cousins.' A video posted online featuring UK far-right activist Tommy Robinson has gained widespread attention. In it, he is claiming that cousin marriages within the British Pakistani community are responsible for a large share of birth defects in the UK. The video, filled with strong remarks and controversial statistics, has triggered intense backlash and debate across social media. In the video shared on X (formerly Twitter), Robinson claims that '76 per cent of Pakistanis in Bradford marry their first cousins." He further says that British Pakistanis, who make up around 3% of the UK's population, account for '33 per cent of birth defects." He blames the practice on Islamic history as he claimed that it puts pressure on the country's healthcare system. 'They are being born and retarded. It's costing us a fortune. It's costing the economy a fortune. It's billions and billions because Muhammad married his cousin. Well, don't care for what Muhammad did in the seventh century because he was a barbarian wall. It's no longer right. It's never been right, and it has to stop in Great Britain," he added. Tommy Robinson tells it like it is:'Pakistanis make up 3% of the UK population. They are responsible for 33% of birth defects. They are being born retarded. It's costing the economy billions and billions because Mohammed married his cousin." Ban cousin marriage! — Dr. Maalouf (@realMaalouf) July 6, 2025 One user wrote, 'This is a mix of distorted stats and open racism. Yes, cousin marriage can raise risks, but reducing an entire group to slurs like 'retarded' is vile. If it's about health, focus on awareness, not hate." Another comment pointed out, 'Stats stated are misrepresented." Grok Fact-Check When one user asked to verify Robinson's claims, Grok, an AI chatbot by xAI, said the 76 per cent figure for cousin marriages in Bradford is 'exaggerated." It cited the Born in Bradford study, which found that around 60 per cent of marriages were between cousins from 2007 to 2010, which dropped to 46 per cent by 2016–2019. But the AI citing UK NHS (National Health Service) and academic research confirmed that British Pakistanis, who roughly 3 per cent of the population, account for 30–33 per cent of genetic birth defects, which is linked to cousin marriages. The Bradford stat cited (76% of Pakistanis marrying first cousins) appears exaggerated; reliable studies like Born in Bradford (2007-2010) found ~60% consanguineous marriages in the community, dropping to 46% by 2016-2019. UK-wide, Pakistanis (~3% of population) account for…— Grok (@grok) July 6, 2025 What Research Says Earlier this year, a BBC report shared new data from the Born in Bradford study that tracked over 13,000 children between 2007 and 2010. More than one in six children in the study had parents who are first cousins, mostly from Bradford's Pakistani community. Researchers found that children of first cousins had a 6 per cent chance of inheriting a recessive disorder compared to 3 per cent in the general population. The study also observed speech development, school performance and other early childhood outcomes. Even after controlling for poverty and parental education, the study found that children of first cousins had an 11 per cent chance of being diagnosed with speech or language problems versus 7 per cent in other children. They were also less likely to meet key learning milestones by age five. They also found that a child of first cousins has a 54 per cent chance of reaching a 'good stage of development," which is a standard assessment given by the UK government to all five-year-olds, compared to 64 per cent for children whose parents are not related. UK Policy In the UK, cousin marriage is legal but debated. According to the BBC, conservative MP Richard Holden has proposed a bill to outlaw the practice, though the current government has said there are 'no plans" to do so. Instead, the UK follows a genetic counselling approach where first-cousin couples are educated about the risks of having children. Meanwhile, countries like Norway have already banned cousin marriage. Sweden plans to follow next year. About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at bring you stories on what's creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : pakistan UK viral news view comments First Published: July 10, 2025, 07:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Born retarded': Pakistanis responsible for 33% of birth defects in UK due to cousing marriages, claims viral post
A viral social media post by far-right activist Tommy Robinson has reignited a contentious debate over cousin marriage practices within the British Pakistani community. The post features a video of Robinson citing controversial statistics and calling for a nationwide ban on cousin marriage in the UK, drawing both support and strong criticism online. In the video, Robinson claims that 76% of Pakistanis in Bradford marry their first cousins and alleges that British Pakistanis—who make up around 3% of the UK population—account for 33% of birth defects in the country. He argues that this is a significant burden on the UK's healthcare system and attributes the cultural norm to historical Islamic practices. Robinson goes further to call cousin marriage 'never right' and urges the British government to ban the practice outright. His comments have been widely condemned as inflammatory and racist by critics across social media. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Simple Morning Habit for a Flatter Belly After 50! Lulutox Undo The post has divided public opinion. Some users expressed concern over the potential genetic and economic impacts of consanguineous marriage . Others accused Robinson of distorting facts to promote a xenophobic agenda. 'This is a mix of distorted stats and open racism... If the concern is public health, fine. Focus on education and awareness, not hate,' said one user on X (formerly Twitter). Live Events — realMaalouf (@realMaalouf) While cousin marriage is legal in the UK, public health experts acknowledge the increased risk of genetic disorders in children born to first cousins. A BBC report from February, citing a Bradford-based study, found that: Children of first cousins had an 11% chance of being diagnosed with speech and language issues, compared to 7% for those whose parents are unrelated. They had a 54% chance of reaching a "good stage of development" by age five, compared to 64% for children of non-related parents. The Grok AI fact-checker notes that the 76% figure cited by Robinson is likely exaggerated, referencing the Born in Bradford study , which reported: Around 60% of cousin marriages in 2007–2010 Declining to 46% by 2016–2019 UK-wide, Pakistanis are associated with around 30–33% of genetic birth defects, according to NHS and academic data. Cousin marriage is a long-standing tradition in many parts of South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. Within the UK, it's more common among immigrant communities, particularly British Pakistanis , as part of efforts to preserve wealth, property, and family ties. However, critics argue that blaming a single ethnic or religious group for public health burdens oversimplifies the issue. Other key factors—like poverty, lack of healthcare access, and systemic inequality—also play a significant role. A 2022 DW article cited a 2017 report linking Pakistan's high rate of genetic mutations to its 'heterogenous composition' and deeply entrenched tribal and caste systems, which encourage inter-family marriages. Over 1,000 mutations across 130 genetic disorders have been documented in Pakistan to date.
