There is no doubt that incest is not only one of the most heinous crimes against established social order, but also the worst form of immorality. The act of incest is anti-civilisational and a relapse to animalistic barbarism. All major religions, notably Christianity, Islam and Buddhism, have clear and uncompromising injunction and proscription against incest as well as bestiality.

Incest is not confined to any ethnic or cultural community. Records of it were found in ancient China, India, Greece, Roman Empire (Europe) and Middle East. It is a well-known fact of history that two of the cruelest and most tyrannical emperors of the Roman Empire contaminating royal blood and to keep the lines of political succession within the confines of the establishment.

Historically, Christianity and Islam have placed paramount importance in the fight against incest.

Confucianism-dominated Chinese culture too vehemently prohibits incest. It even forbids marriage between a man and woman with the same surname though they may not be related, a custom still strictly observed up to today. The prohibition could possibly stemmed from instances of incest being practised before the prohibition was needed, instituted and later culturalised.

Incest still occurs today, even in developed countries in North America and Europe though the act is rightly criminalised everywhere now.

It means that incest, as well as the effort to suppress it, has always been universal. It should therefore be discoursed, privately or publicly, in a universal and non-racial paradigm. Modern and secular psychology, especially abnormal psychology that deals with deviant human behaviours and the psychological causes, can also contribute a great deal to the understanding of incest.

Certainly, unfailing moral condemnation and heavy punishment are needed to suppress incest, but there must also be honest, prudent, rational and humanistic public discourse on the multifaceted causes of the criminal and abnormal behaviour, as well as public education on its moral, spiritual and biological effects.

Psychological counselling for the victims of incest and their families and the inculcation of moral courage to expose the crime should be emphasised.

In short, the war against incest must not be politicised or racialised. There must be a sincere sharing of information, rational knowledge and positive values. Knowledge as well as faith are needed as weapons.