250 times forcibly tattooed with an AliExpress device
Now it costs Joke €30,000 to remove this
Living under the forced needle
The situation Joke found herself in went much further than just having ink all over her body. Her ex determined where and when he tattooed her, often in places where he thought other men had touched her. He did this with a tattoo machine from AliExpress, which can lead to bad tattoos and skin damage. She was trapped in a relationship full of manipulation, intimidation, and psychological violence. In her vulnerable state, Joke reached for alcohol and pills to numb herself, making it even harder to resist him. Outside, she barely dared to look up anymore and was insulted on the street day in and day out for her appearance. An appearance she did not choose for herself. The mental impact was enormous. So great that she struggled with suicidal thoughts for a year and a half.
A permanent reminder
What Joke was left with from the relationship is not only emotional damage but also a permanent scar. Unlike a necklace, you can't just take off a tattoo when your relationship ends. You see it everywhere you go. And that makes this form of abuse so cruel; it is a constant reminder of something you would rather forget. Unfortunately, Joke is not the only one: such manipulation under the guise of love occurs more often in toxic relationships. ‘If you really love me then...’ is usually the plan of action. Even if it's just a small tattoo, the psychological consequences can be enormous.
The long (expensive) road to recovery
An important step in the recovery process is a laser treatment to remove the tattoos. This is very painful and especially very expensive. Removing a tattoo costs ten times as much as getting one, because such a laser machine costs two hundred thousand. For Joke and her AliExpress tattoos, the bill amounts to about 30,000 euros. She pays half of this and Stichting Spijt Tattoo pays the other half. The foundation is committed to people for whom a tattoo tattoo is no longer a piece of jewelry, but a visible scar from a past they would like to leave behind. And that fits seamlessly with Joke's story.
Image: Go Fund Me | Out of your Heart out of your Skin
What about the perpetrator and his tattoo machine?
Are the two behind bars for what they did to Joke? Unfortunately, it's not that simple. Although Joke has filed a complaint, it turns out to be legally complicated. Her ex said she was fine with it, and without evidence, such as video footage or witness statements, it is difficult to build a case. And even if that succeeds, forced tattooing often falls under ‘simple assault’, which usually ends in a fine or community service. Only if it happens more often can a prison sentence be on the table. It raises a lot of questions about legislation and protection. Anyone can just buy a tattoo machine and do what Joke's ex did. There are strict hygiene guidelines that professional tattoo artists must adhere to, but beyond that? Nothing.
For those who really need it
Not everyone can turn to Stichting Spijt Tattoo to have their tattoos lasered away. Unfortunately for those who had a little mustache tattooed on their finger in 2014 and now find it less appealing. Applications only go through professional counselors who can submit a request on behalf of their client. This ensures that help goes to those who really need it.
The discussion about products that should possibly be banned on platforms like AliExpress is becoming increasingly serious. Think of toys with toxic substances, cheap batteries, and childish sex dolls. Let's hope that tattoo equipment also finds its way onto this list. Because as Joke's story shows, the impact of such a product can be enormous when it falls into the wrong hands.
SOURCE: Heart of the Netherlands
