JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) 鈥� Teguh Islean Septura groans in pain as each staccato rat-a-tat-tat of the laser fires an intense beam at the elaborate tattoos on his arm. But the former musician's determination to 鈥渞epent鈥� in the is enough to keep him going.
The 30-year-old guitarist got his back, arms and legs tattooed to 鈥渓ook cool鈥� when he was performing in a band. But these days Septura has a newfound zeal for Islam, including the conviction that Muslims should not alter the body that God gave them.
鈥淎s humans, sometimes we make mistakes. Now I want to improve myself by moving closer to God,鈥� Seputra said, as a health worker aimed the white laser wand at Septura鈥檚 skin, blasting the red, green and black pigments with its penetrating light. 鈥淕od gave me clean skin and I ruined it, that鈥檚 what I regret now."
Septura is among a growing number of people in Indonesia's capital who have signed up for free tattoo removal services offered by Amil Zakat National Agency, an Islamic charity organization, during Ramadan to give practicing Muslims an opportunity to 鈥渞epent."
Launched in 2019, the tattoo removal program is now held every Ramadan, a month of fasting, increased worship, religious reflection and good deeds. Some 700 people have signed up for the services this year, and in total nearly 3,000 people have taken part.
鈥淲e want to pave the way for people who want to hijrah (to move closer to God), including those who want to remove their tattoos鈥� said Mohammad Asep Wahyudi, a coordinator of the event. He added that many people cannot afford to remove their tattoos or know where and how they can do so safely.
Laser removal, which takes repeated treatment and may not be completely successful, could cost thousands of dollars for tattoos as extensive as Septura's.
Tattooing remains strongly associated with gangs and criminality in some Asian cultures. In addition to the religious prohibitions in Muslim-majority Indonesia, ideas about tattoos also reveal oppressive attitudes toward women, who if tattooed can be labeled as promiscuous or disreputable and not worth marrying.
Sri Indrayati, 52, said she tattooed the name of her first daughter on her hand shortly after she gave birth to her at the age of 22. She said she regretted it when her two grandchildren kept asking her to erase it because it looked like dirty, thick marker writing.
鈥淲hen I take my grandson to school, (the children) whisper to each other: 鈥榣ook at that grandma, she has a tattoo!鈥� she said.
Another woman, Evalia Zadora, got a tattoo of a large star on her back and the words "Hope, Love and Rock & Roll鈥� on her upper chest as a teen to gain acceptance into a gang. She wants to remove them now to move closer to God and out of consideration for her family.
鈥淏ad image (against people with tattoos) is not a big deal for me, but it affected my husband and son,鈥� said Zadora, 36. 鈥淭hey are not comfortable with my tattoos and I respect their feelings, so I want to remove it.
Niniek Karmini, The Associated Press
