Turkey May Introduce Prison Sentences for Tattoos and Piercings for Minors

🇹🇷 Turkey May Introduce Prison Sentences for Tattoos and Piercings for Minors

A new bill has been submitted to the Turkish parliament that could significantly tighten regulations for tattoo artists and cosmetic practitioners.

The initiative was proposed by a deputy from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

According to the proposal, performing tattoos, piercings, and certain aesthetic procedures on people under 18 could be classified as intentional harm to health.

⚠️ Proposed Penalties

If the law is adopted, anyone who performs the following procedures on a minor may face 1 to 3 years in prison:

• 💉 tattoos
• 📿 piercings
• 🧪 botox
• 💧 fillers
• 🔬 other aesthetic procedures

⚖️ When Would Punishment Apply?

The punishment would apply in cases where:

• 🏥 there is no medical necessity
• 📝 there is no written consent from a legal guardian
• 👪 the parent or guardian is not present during the procedure

📋 Rationale Behind the Bill

The bill's justification states that such procedures can lead to permanent changes to the body, and decisions made during adolescence may later result in:

• 🧠 psychological issues
• ⚕️ health problems
• 🚫 restrictions when applying for certain government positions (for example, in the police or the military)

The proposed legislation aims to protect minors from making permanent decisions about their appearance before reaching adulthood.