Pretty television host, Tazeen Ahmad, has done a brave expose on the taboo subject of Muslims that marry their cousins. Recent studies have concluded, there is a high risk of birth defects and early death among first cousins, who engage in sexual intercourse and sire children. 

Ahmad, spoke of her own family's experience, as several of her relatives have died prematurely and many of her family members suffer from serious disabilities, due to her grandparents having been first cousins that married each other. This is a topic Muslim families definitely need to talk to each other about, as it is placing their children at great risk.