BAKU, July 19 — Efforts to tighten legislation on consanguineous (close-kin) marriages in Azerbaijan could backfire by pushing more couples into unregistered, informal unions, sociologists and legal experts warn.
Sociologist Uzeyir Shafiyev noted that a significant number of people in Azerbaijan are already involved in such relationships, often raising children without any formal marriage registration. “The issue is compounded by the persistence of religious-only marriages,” he said, pointing out that many couples bypass official procedures entirely.
“Passing a prohibitive law is not enough,” Shafiyev said. “There must be broad public education campaigns explaining why such legal norms exist and how they protect individuals and families.”
He proposed establishing local social agencies under executive authorities to detect and prevent kin marriages at an early stage by monitoring vulnerable cases and alerting law enforcement or social services when necessary. He also emphasized the importance of promoting prenuptial agreements as a means of legal protection.
“To address this effectively, Azerbaijan needs a comprehensive reform of both the Family Code and the Administrative Offences Code,” Shafiyev added.
Meanwhile, the State Committee for Family, Women and Children’s Affairs said it currently investigates cases of unregistered or consanguineous marriages only upon receiving formal complaints. The committee continues to carry out public awareness campaigns aimed at discouraging such practices and informing citizens of their legal implications.
