Artist Soraya Shahidy is Breaking Stereotypes by Her Tattoo Business in Afghanistan

Soraya Shahidy, 27, believes that she is the first female tattoo artist in the city of Kabul in Afghanistan. It was in Turkey that she first learned the art of tattooing. 

Despite Afghanistan being conservative, Soraya continues to do her tattooing work passionately setting new records and breaking old stereotypes. 

It is courageous of Soraya to follow her passion in a country risking her life as certain Islam religious laws don’t permit Tattoos. “Some scholars say tattoos are prohibited. But there are other scholars who say the opposite”, she explains. 

In her personal opinion Tattoos are allowed and it is more about personal preference. 

Shahidy says, “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.”

“I believe it`s not only men who can apply tattoos. Women can do it too”, she expressed. 

There are increasing numbers of youngsters in the country who are interested in getting a tattoo. She revealed that girls prefer delicate designs like flowers, butterflies, dragonflies, or the people they love while guys prefer bizarre ones. 

Her customer named Nargis Merzayi` who was longing for a tattoo finally got a tattoo inked on her forearm. Her tattoo is in Hindi and it means courage. 

Besides tattoos, her beauty salon offers eyelash extension and manicure services which were banned during the Taliban rule. She promotes her work through her social media profile ‘Ahoo.’

Soraya Shahidy thinks about the possibility of the return of the Taliban who are having peace talks with the Afghan government. Their return could possibly affect her work but she’s still hopeful. “We are not the people who can easily lose the achievements we have gained over the recent years,” she explains on a brighter note.