Egypt— Tattoo scenes & cities

In Egypt, a very common mark is a small blue cross tattooed on the inside of the wrist, tied to the Coptic minority. It is not part of any official doctrine: it is a folk custom. It expresses faith and recalls a time when being Christian invited discrimination. For security reasons, some churches check for the cross at the entrance.

In Old Cairo, near the church of Abu Serga, a tattooist offers crosses and saints from ready-made templates; he says he follows the rules of the Church and of the Tourism Police. According to a young Muslim customer quoted by CairoScene, the Church allows only simple words, religious images or flowers. Young Muslims get tattooed there too, mainly because it costs less.