Deq (tattoo)

Deq (Kurdish: deq, دەق; Syriac: ܕܰܩܩܶܐ, romanized: Daqqe or Dyoqo), also known as xał (خاڵ) and in Assyrian as rushma (ܪܘܼܫܡܵܐ, “sign”), is a traditional and unique form of tattooing that is most prominent in Mardin, Diyarbakır, and Şanlıurfa Province in southeastern Turkey. Although it is primarily a practice observed by Kurdish women, deq is also observed among men.

The tradition of Deq is primarily observed among Kurds and Yazidis, however other groups such as Arabs and Assyrians also partake in similar customs. Due to religious, cultural, and economic influences, the practice has declined and has often been replaced by henna, which is temporary, unlike the permanent nature of deq. However, recent efforts have been made to revive deq as a means of reasserting Kurdish identity.