The tradition of tattooing in Siverek, Turkey^*

* An earlier version of this paper was presented at the Siverek in History Symposium, organized by the Siverek Governorship in October 2001 in Siverek City Hall.

ABSTRACT

Looking at the relationship between tattooing and its past and present Islamic interpretations, this article presents the case of an old tattooing practice that transformed into a folk belief. Setting aside the antagonistic tension between tattooing as an adorning means and Islamic injunctions prohibiting tattooing, this article assesses the practice by reference to the ways it was recently encapsulated within a narrative of fashion, usage and custom. The study is based on multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork, participant observation and extensive interviews carried out with members of the Arab tribe Hatipogullari, living in five villages and on the hilly ‘arable field’ (Arap Bölgesi) near the town of Siverek, in the south-eastern Turkish province of Şanliurfa.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

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3. C. Jones, ‘Stigma and Tattoo’; Caplan (ed.), Written on the Body, p.91–107.

4. L. Taylor (ed.), Visualizing Theory: Selected Essays from V.A.R., 1990–1994 (New York: Routledge, 1994); Caplan (ed.), (2000).

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9. Tasgin, (2006).

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20. Ebü'l-Abbas Şehabeddin Ahmed b. Ahmed b. Abdüllatif Zebidi, Sahih-i Buhari Muhtasarı Tecrid-i Sarih Tercemesi ve Şerhi, Vol.6 (Ankara: Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı Yayınları, 1982), pp.379–81; A. Davudoğlu, Sahihi Müslim Tercüme ve Şerhi [The Real Islamic Translation and Şerhi], Vol.9 (Istanbul: Sönmez Neşriyat, 1983), pp.511–12; Rudani, Büyük Hadis Külliyatı, p.152–3.