The world’s least tattoo-friendly countries

According to estimates, around one in five of the UK population is tattooed, which rises to one in three for young adults. Tattoos used to be viewed as vulgar and garish but are now must-have fashion accessories that showcase incredible artistic ability or have some sort of deep-routed meaning.

The majority of the UK has grown accustomed to body art, no longer finding it socially unacceptable. However, this doesn’t mean to say every other country around the world shares such tolerance.

Denmark

Ever since 1966, Danes have been forbidden from getting their face, head, neck, or hands tattooed. But things could soon change, as the Social Liberal Party wants to revoke this long-standing law, with several people getting tattooed in these areas or going to neighbouring countries to have the work done anyway.

“This is about an individual’s right to decide,” says Zeb Meier Watz from the Social Liberal Party. “In today’s modern world, more and more people are getting piercings, tattoos and other forms of adornment.”

Turkey

A couple of years ago, Turkey introduced a series of stringent measures including a ban on tattoos in schools as part of an overhaul of the country’s education system. Tattoos are extremely popular among secular urban youths in Istanbul and Ankara, but the moderate Islamist AK Party government sought to keep strong connections with its traditional religious base.

The decision was denounced by Veli Demir, the head of an education union. “What is going to happen to those [pupils] who already have tattoos?” he said. “This is not a decision that a reasonable person can take. It is a decision taken without careful thought. It is a decision taken by an oppressive mind-set.”

Iran

Last year, Iran decided to outlaw tattoos as well as spiky haircuts and the use of sunbeds on the grounds that they imply “devil worship.” Conservative Iranians see these movements as a sign of Westernisation, which violate “the Islamic system’s regulations.”

Iran is governed by a strict interpretation of Sharia law, with agencies expected to act on every individual case of violation in public life.

Sri Lanka

In 2014, a British tourist was deported from Sri Lanka because of a Buddha tattoo on her arm. She was arrested on arrival at Colombo airport for “hurting others’ religious feelings,” as authorities regularly take action against perceived insults to Buddhism.

Ms Coleman, who told police in a statement that she practised Buddhism, explained: “I was taking my suitcases out, one of the taxi men at the stand stopped me and said, ‘Oh, this is a big problem in Sri Lanka, you’ve got a Buddha tattoo.’”

UAE

Even though you will not be legally penalised for having or getting a tattoo in the UAE, it is forbidden in Islam by virtue of a Fatwa issued by the Official Fatwa Centre at the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments. This is because it is considered a form of self-injury.

“It is also socially unacceptable and uncommon among Emirati people, and the removal of tattoos is a prerequisite for joining certain establishments such as the army, the police and some airlines,” notes Yousef Al Bahar, advocate at Al Bahar and Associates Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Japan

Last year a government survey conducted by the country’s official tourism agency found that 56 per cent of hotels and inns did not allow visitors with tattoos to enter their public bathing areas.

Only 31 per cent of establishments permitted tattooed bathers to enter, while 13 per cent said they permitted entry if the tattoos were hidden. Tattoos are traditionally associated with yakuza organised crime gangs in Japan.

North Korea

There is no law against tattoos in North Korea, but they are subject to certain regulations and need to have some sort of ideological element.

“In North Korea, tattoos must carry praise of the Kim family or carry a teaching of the state,” said Hyun Namhyuk, who escaped North Korea and recently settled in South Korea. “They must have a political purpose in them.” Examples include ‘Guard the Great Leader to our death’, ‘We are the General’s offspring’, and ‘Defence of the Motherland’.

South Korea

Again, tattooing is not illegal in South Korea, but the law states that only a licensed medical doctor can carry it out. Therefore, a growing number of tattoo artists are vulnerable to prosecution on the whim of local authorities.

“So if you want to get a tattoo, you’re supposed to go to a hospital?” noted Jang Jun-Hyuk, owner of Tattooism in central Seoul. “It’s just absurd.” However, officials say the law is justified by health considerations, which include the risk of hepatitis and HIV infection from improperly sanitised needles.

Featured image credit: Denise Krebs via Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons 2.0