Incestuous relationships are rampant in the literature world. In George R. R. Martin's bestselling fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, which has been adapted by HBO as Game of Thrones, siblings Cersei and Jamie Lannister get a lot of attention because of their sexual, and sometimes brutal, relationship. In Anne Rice's Mayfair trilogy, members of a family of witches are inbred with each other. There are many other novels and films where kinship between brothers and sisters are deemed beyond what is morally acceptable. While incestuous relationship is generally seen as immoral, an ethics committee in Germany thinks it is a 'fundamental right.'
In a statement released by the German Ethics Council, it said that although incest is taboo, it should not be declared illegal.
“Criminal law is not the appropriate means to preserve a social taboo,” the German Ethics Council said in a statement. “The fundamental right of adult siblings to sexual self-determination is to be weighed more heavily than the abstract idea of protection of the family.”
These comments were made following case wherein a brother and sister, protected through the alias Patrick S and Susan K, respectively, had four children together. The two were raised separately and met only when the girl was already 16. Patrick is said to be older. The couple's children are disabled and the European Court Human rights think this has something to do with Patrick and Susan being siblings. Patrick was sentenced Patrick to more than three years in prison for incest.
The German Ethics council made their comments about incestuous relationships after doing an extensive research wherein they found out that many incestuous couples are forced to live separately. They also argued that genetically, affected couples are not banned from having children.
Although German Ethics Council has made itself heard, the Christian Democrats, represented by Germany chancellor Angel Merkel, said that adopting its recommendation about incestuous relationship is very unlikely.
“The abolition of the offense of incest between siblings would be the wrong signal,” said Elisabeth Winkelmeier-Becker, legal policy spokeswoman for the party’s group in parliament.
“Eliminating the threat of punishment against incestuous acts within families would run counter to the protection of undisturbed development for children.”
