The German Ethics Council, an official government agency, is recommending that the law against incest between adult brothers and sisters be repealed. Furthermore, the ruling defined “sexual self-determination” as a “fundamental right.” See the reasoning after the jump.
Words from the ruling quoted in Germans May Approve Incest:
“Incest between siblings appears to be very rare in Western societies according to the available data but those affected describe how difficult their situation is in light of the threat of punishment. They feel their fundamental freedoms have been violated and are forced into secrecy or to deny their love.The majority of the German Ethics Council is of the opinion that it is not appropriate for a criminal law to preserve a social taboo.In the case of consensual incest among adult siblings, neither the fear of negative consequences for the family, nor the possibility of the birth of children from such incestuous relationships can justify a criminal prohibition. The fundamental right of adult siblings to sexual self-determination has more weight in such cases than the abstract protection of the family.”
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