In an alley in Cairo’s populous Shubra neighborhood, tattoo artist Osama Ayoub challenges stereotypes by inking people’s bodies in a conservative and religious society that considers body art a taboo.
“Despite social pressure and deeply rooted traditional ideas, I have been running a very successful business so far,” Ayoub told Al-Monitor while tattooing a young woman. “The art is getting more and more popular here,” he added.