Setting the world record for most albinos in a family, a British Asian family of six siblings and their parents.
The Parvez family, who live all around the UK, suffer from the rare inherited life-long condition known as albinism, meaning whilst their genetic makeup and features make them Asian, their skin and hair are white.
Melanin is a chemical in the body that determines the colour of skin, hair and eyes. The chemical is also involved in the development of the optical nerve, which may signify impaired eyesight.
People with Albinism are very sensitive to light and often have visual impairments. This is because a lack of pigment causes the eyes to develop abnormally during pregnancy and in early life.
Many people with the condition wear tinted spectacles or contact lenses to reduce their discomfort.
Because their skin offers no natural protection against the sun’s rays it is important for those with the condition to protect their skin to prevent sunburn.
In the UK roughly one in 17,000 people are born with Albinism, which also means there is little or no pigment in the eyes, and in a small number of cases this reduced pigmentation only affects the eyes.
However, for the Parvez family, all the siblings are affected by albinism, which they inherited from their parents, Pakistani-born couple Aslam Parvez and Shameem Akhtar, who are both 65 years old.
Aged between 42 and 27, Naseem, Ghulam, Haider, Muqadas, Musarat, and Mohammed are from what’s thought to be the largest albino family in the world, with 15 albino members across their extended family.
The eldest of the siblings, Naseem Akhtar had hoped that the story of her family being shared their very own journey of growth, acceptance and uniqueness would inspire people, so she decided to entire the family for the record.
“I always believed something good would happen,” she says. “Maybe being Guinness World Records title holders is that good thing.
“Achieving a Guinness World Records is amazing. Finally, that uniqueness that we were born with and perhaps our story will inspire others”.
All six of their children have albinism, as well as some of their siblings, nieces and nephews, with the family spread between Coventry and Exeter.
The siblings say the cruel bullying and discrimination they’ve received over their different appearances have brought them closer together over the years.
Naseem, an NHS rehabilitation officer, said the family are proud of their identity despite facing discrimination in the past.
When asked about her genetic condition and how it presents, Naseem clarifies:
“Albinism affects the eyes, the skin and the colour of your hair. It’s a lack of pigment which you are born without. There’s a gene that goes faulty and, hence, you have the condition.”
Further offering the explanation “It’s a condition that both parents have to carry for it to present in the offspring.”
Talking about what the siblings faced during their childhood and school years, Ghulam Ali said:
“During school and college, when we were quite young, we always sort of kept to ourselves together. We did experience being bullied or being sworn at.”
However, they confronted the hate and ignorance by educating others and sticking together as one, finding support and love in the family.
As the youngest brother, Rafi, recounts, the six siblings also helped each other due to their impaired eyesight.
“Our sight is not as good, but we always knew that if we stand together no one can do us harm.”
Through the difficulties, the siblings could always count on the safe harbour represented by their older sister, Naseem.
Today, surrounded by an expanding family but always with her beloved team by her side, Naseem has grown to like her condition and whom she has become as a person.
“Over time, I have now come to like my condition because it makes me very unique. Being Asian but being white, gives me a unique outlook on life, it gives me a very unbiased opinion of society and humanity.
She also adds “Over time, developing, I like who I am, and the human being I became”.
When asked about what he likes about the condition now, the youngest brother Rafi said:
“What I like about the condition is that you get noticed a lot. You stand out slightly from others. My eyes change colour, they go red, they go blue, they go purple, or they go pink, so there are four colours.
“My parents had six children with the condition. However, the youngest generation of our family doesn’t have it. My son, my niece and my nephew do not have the condition,” explains Rafi.
Muqadas Bibi’s daughter is also part of the younger generation who did not inherit the genetic condition.
According to Naseem, a Guinness World Records title granted her family that stamp, that self-esteem, that she always wanted for her siblings.
Reflecting on this she says “Go and get your dream and be amazing, because we are all amazing. It doesn’t matter if you have a disability or are able-bodied or who you are, just be you. Be proud of yourself and love yourself for who you are. Find who you are.”
