THREE Muslims who had tattoos and wanted them removed resorted to using an iron, formic acid and pieces of metal heated over a fire in their attempt to get rid of them.

They suffered a great deal of suffering and pain but could not lose the tatoos, reported Metro Ahad.

A 30-year-old labourer from Ipoh, who only wanted to be known as Naim, told the newspaper that every day for the past four years, he had been trying to figure out how to get his 10 tattoos removed.

He used a hot iron and burnt his shoulder in the attempt, but pressed on. He said "that only God knows how much it hurt" and he even became ill for two weeks with sores on his shoulder, which took two months to heal. Yet the tattoos were still there. He tried again using a special abrasive soap he bought from Thailand but although he almost shredded his skin to bits, the tattoos remained.

Naim said getting the tattoos removed through laser surgery was expensive as it costs about RM600 per sq cm, but he was saving up to do it.

He got his tattoos in 1990 when he was in a drug rehabilitation centre as there were many inmates who were skilled in the art of tattooing. Another worker from Petaling Jaya, 26-year-old Sahlan, said he used acid to remove his tattoo. "It wasn't so bad at first but it gradually ate into my flesh right to the bone," he said, adding that he ended up going to the doctor when the wound got infected.

Saiful, 22, used hot metal to try and remove his tattoo but all he got were sores and scars.

Selangor Mufti Datuk Seri Tamyes Abdul Wahid told the newspaper that Muslims who have tattoos and truly repented are forgiven and should cover them up with clothing. They only need to remove the tattoo if it was obscene or if haram (prohibited) material was used.