A growing number of people in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, are flocking to a free tattoo removal service offered by the Amil Zakat National Agency, an Islamic charity, to “repent” during the holy month of Ramadan.
The service aims to help practicing Muslims who wish to rid themselves of tattoos, seen by some as conflicting with religious beliefs.
Teguh Islean Septura, a 30-year-old former musician, is among those seeking to remove tattoos as part of his spiritual journey. Having covered his body with tattoos in his youth to “look cool” while performing in a band, Septura now regrets his past decisions.
“God gave me clean skin, and I ruined it. That’s what I regret now,” he said as the laser worked on his tattoos. Septura believes Muslims should not alter the body that God has given them and is determined to improve himself and grow closer to God during Ramadan.
Launched in 2019, the tattoo removal program is now held every year during Ramadan.
This year, over 700 people have signed up for the free service, and nearly 3,000 people have benefited from it since its inception.
Mohammad Asep Wahyudi, a coordinator for the event, explained that the initiative is meant to pave the way for those seeking to “move closer to God” and “repent” by removing tattoos.
Many participants are unable to afford the high costs of professional tattoo removal, which can run into thousands of dollars for large, detailed tattoos.
Tattooing remains a controversial practice in some Asian cultures, including Muslim-majority Indonesia.
Beyond religious prohibitions, tattoos in Indonesia are often associated with criminality and gangs, and in some cases, women with tattoos are stigmatised as promiscuous or disreputable.
This stigma has led some people, particularly women, to seek tattoo removal in order to improve their social standing and strengthen family bonds.
Sri Indrayati, 52, regretted the tattoo she got after the birth of her first daughter. Over time, she became self-conscious of it, especially when her grandchildren would comment on it. “When I take my grandson to school, the children whisper: ‘Look at that grandma, she has a tattoo!’” she said.
Similarly, Evalia Zadora, 36, got a tattoo as a teenager to gain acceptance into a gang. She now seeks to remove it out of respect for her husband and son, who are uncomfortable with it. “It affected my husband and son,” Zadora said. “I respect their feelings, so I want to remove it.”
The tattoo removal initiative, which is held annually during Ramadan, is part of broader efforts by the Amil Zakat National Agency to help Muslims reflect on their actions, engage in religious practices, and perform good deeds during the holy month.
As the program continues to grow, it is helping more people remove symbols of their past and move forward with a renewed commitment to faith and self-improvement.
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