Afghan Female Artist Soraya Shahidy Is Breaking The Taboo On Tattoos In Her Kabul Studio

Soraya Shahidy puts a stencil with precision on the arm of Nargis Merzayi's arm before she inks the latest tattoo in her salon in Kabul, Afghanistan.

While this is normal in most parts of the world, Shahidy's artwork in Afghanistan breaks a tattoo taboo. She feels she is the first female tattoo artist in a conservative country. Some religious scholars believe that tattoos are not permitted in Islam.

"I could have performed this profession abroad but I wanted to do it in Afghanistan because there are no female tattoo artists in the country," she said while speaking to Reuters.

"I believe it's not only men who can apply tattoos. Women can do it too," she added.

Reuters

The 27-year-old trained in Turkey and Iran and she insists her artwork is not against Islam in any way.

"Some mullahs say tattoos are forbidden, but there are other mullahs who say the opposite," she went on to say

"Most clients want tattoos on their wrists, arms, neck and legs. Girls are more interested in delicate tattoo designs such as flowers, butterflies and dragonflies, or the names of people they love. But some boys choose designs that are extravagant to me."

One client wanted that of a tombstone inscribed "volunteer of death".

Reuters

Shahidy's Merzayi wanted to get a tattoo and went with the design on the inside of her forearm.

"My tattoo is in Hindi handwriting and it means courage," she said.

Shahidy does think about the Taliban coming back to power who are engaging in peace talks with the Afghan government. However, she is confident that Afghanistan is different from what it was when the Taliban were ousted in 2001.

"We are not the people who can easily lose the achievements we have gained over the recent years," she said.