Turkey’s government has banned all school pupils nationwide from having tattoos or body piercings in a new dress code deemed oppressive and unenforceable, according to the law’s critics.
While tattoos are not widespread among older generations, they
have seen a surge in popularity amongst the young and secular
sectors of society.
The measure, imposed by the government and published in the
Official Gazette on Saturday, also prohibited a number of other
things such as dyeing hair, wearing makeup and moustaches and
beards for boys, according to local media reports.
Students could be punished through reprimands, suspension or
expulsion. If a student fails to get a tattoo removed the
punishment is not yet clear.
It shortly follows a previous set of measures which permitted the
wearing Muslim headscarves in schools which critics has also
denounced as corrosive of Turkey’s secular ideals.
Opponents and critics have said that President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan’s recent moves constitute steps towards the Islamisation
of the country.
Head of the Education Workers Union, Veli Demir said it was
unenforceable because tattoos cannot just be taken off like an
item of clothing.
“What is going to happen to those (pupils) who already have
tattoos? This is not a decision that a reasonable person can
take. It is a decision taken without careful thought,” he
said as cited by AFP. He said that there will be an appeal to the
Council of State over the dress code as it is against the
Constitution, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and
decisions of the European Court of Human Rights.
“It is a decision taken by an oppressive mindset. Education
is all about contributing to a child's development and protecting
them,” he said.
Another education union head however offered some support for the
issue, saying that children who already had tattoos would not be
subject to the ban.
“There will be a confusion about when the tattoo was
done,” he admitted. “I believe that on this issue the
school will take the initiative and help the child.”
Erdogan has expressed distaste for tattoos in general, asking a
young footballer, Berk Yildiz, in July to remove his and
questioning “why do you harm your body?”