Content uploaded by Kamil Hakan Dogan
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Kamil Hakan Dogan on Jan 29, 2018
Content may be subject to copyright.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Is Daily Shaving of Axillary and Pubic Hair a Feature of
Suicide in the Muslim Community?
Serafettin Demirci, MD,* Kamil Hakan Dogan, MD,* Zerrin Erkol, MD,† and Idris Deniz, MD*
Abstract: In the Islamic context, “fitrah” refers to humanity’s innate
disposition toward virtue and the ability to differentiate between
right and wrong. A common quote regarding fitrah, from the Prophet
is “ The fitrah consists of 5 things: circumcision, trimming the moustache,
cutting the nails, plucking the armpit hairs, and shaving the pubic hairs.”
In this study, our aim was to determine the status of axillary and
pubic shaving in medicolegal death cases that took place in the Konya
Province of Turkey and to evaluate the relationship with the origin of
suicide. Of 2850 medicolegal death cases, 206 (7.2%) were of suicidal
origin. It was observed that the average age in the cases of suicidal
origin was 36.76 ⫾17.72 years, and 146 of 206 cases (70.9%) were
men. As a method of suicide, hanging was the chosen method in 100
cases (48.5%), whereas firearm injuries occurred in 54 cases (26.2%),
and intoxication was involved in 37 cases (18.0%). Daily axillary and
pubic shaving was observed in 26 of 2644 (1.0%) death cases that
occurred with nonsuicidal reasons, but in 65 of 206 were (31.6%)
suicidal cases. Because suicidal notes were present in 25 (12.1%) of all
of the suicidal cases, the ratio of daily axillary and pubic shaving was
significantly higher than that of the suicidal notes.
In investigating the cases of suicidal origin for medicolegal purposes,
evidence showing that this action was committed by the victim, the
presence of a suicide note at the death scene and, a history of a previous
suicidal attempt, it was thought that the presence of daily axillary and pubic
shaving on external examination of the victim’s body, when of Muslim
faith, could also be considered a feature of suicide.
Key Words: axilla, pubis, shaving, suicide, forensic medicine
(Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2008;29: 330 –333)
Different customs exist between countries, cultures, and
genders with respect to the subject of axillary and pubic
shaving, and these differences have been attributed to reli-
gious, traditional, esthetic, sexual, and hygienic issues.
In many cultures, particularly North America, eastern
Europe, and the Middle East, women frequently remove some
or all of their body hair due to societal values and consider it
unattractive and/or not feminine, or as a matter of practicing
good hygiene. Women may also remove some or all of their
pubic hair for esthetic or sexual reasons. Men may also
practice this, but not as commonly. In a sexual context, pubic
hair removal is done to increase visual exposure of the
genitalia and/or facilitate access to the genital area by remov-
ing the barrier of hair, and for the purpose of cleanliness.
In ancient Egypt, many people depilated their entire
bodies to prevent infestation by lice, fleas, and other para-
sites. Given the absence of insecticides, this custom seems
less bizarre.
A patient’s body hair was once shaved before surgery
for reasons of hygiene; however, this turned out to be coun-
terproductive and as a result, in many hospitals patients are
no longer shaved. The shaving of hair has sometimes been
used in attempts to eradicate lice or to minimize body odor
due to the accumulation of odor-causing microorganisms in
hair. Some people with trichiasis find it medically necessary
to remove ingrown eyelashes.
Many forms of cancer require chemotherapy that often
causes severe and irregular hair loss. For this reason, it is
common for cancer patients to shave their heads even before
starting chemotherapy.
1
Sunnah is the prophet Muhammad’s way of life and
viewed as a model for Muslims. Muslim men and women are
required by the Sunnah to shave their pubic hair and axillae.
2
Also, Muslim men are not supposed to shave their beards, but
are encouraged to shave their moustaches, according to the
Sunnah.
3
In this study, we investigated the presence of daily
axillary and pubic shaving (DAPS) in cases of suicidal origin
and in the other medicolegal deaths, among Muslims in the
Konya Province of Turkey.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Our study was conducted in Konya, which is the fourth
largest city of Turkey and located in the middle Anatolia
region. Konya had a population of 2,192,166 people in 2000,
according to the data of the Turkish Statistics Association.
4
In
Turkey, 99% of the population is Muslim.
5
All of the medicolegal death cases included in the study
were Muslim. For this study, forms were prepared for ascer-
taining axillary and pubic shaving status and were used for
Manuscript received July 20, 2007; accepted July 25, 2007.
From the *Department of Forensic Medicine, Meram Medical School,
Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey; and the †Department of Forensic
Medicine, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey.
All figures can be viewed in color online at http://www.amjforensicmedicine.com.
Reprints: Serafettin Demirci, MD, Department of Forensic Medicine, Meram
Medical School, Selcuk University, 42080 Meram, Konya, Turkey.
E-mail: sdemirci@selcuk.edu.tr.
Copyright © 2008 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
ISSN: 0195-7910/08/2904-0330
DOI: 10.1097/PAF.0b013e318187df30
The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology • Volume 29, Number 4, December 2008330
each of 2850 medicolegal death cases that occurred between
2001 and 2006. Apart from this, the death scene investigation
of all cases thought to be of suicidal origin was performed in
detail before autopsy. Statistical analysis was performed
using SPSS version 13.0, and the
2
test was applied for the
evaluation of the parameters.
RESULTS
Out of 2850 medicolegal death cases, 206 (7.2%) were
suicides, with an average age of 36.76 ⫾17.72 years. Of the
suicides, 146 (70.9%) were men. As the method of suicide,
hanging was chosen in 100 cases (48.5%), firearm injuries
occurred in 54 cases (26.2%), and intoxication was the
method used in 37 cases (18.0%; Fig. 1). DAPS was observed
in 26 of the 2644 (1.0%) death cases that occurred for
nonsuicidal reasons and in 65 of 206 (31.6%) suicidal cases
(Table 1, Figs. 2 and 3). Neither daily axillary shaving alone
nor daily pubic shaving alone was observed in any of the
cases. There was no significant statistical difference between
the presence of DAPS and the method of suicide, age group,
or gender (P⬎0.005; Tables 2– 4). Because the suicidal
notes were present in only 25 (12.1%) of the suicidal cases,
the ratio of the presence of DAPS was determined to be
significantly higher than that of the suicidal notes. The ratio
of the presence of DAPS was 56% in the cases who had left
suicide notes, whereas it was 28.2% in the cases who had not
left suicide notes, and this difference in ratios was statistically
significant (P⫽0.005; Table 5).
DISCUSSION
Hair removal has been practiced for centuries in almost
all human cultures. The methods used have varied among
times and regions, but shaving is the most common method.
1
Trimming or complete removal of pubic hair has become a
custom in many cultures. A preference for hairless genitals is
known as acomoclitism. The method of removing hair is
TABLE 1. DAPS and Cause of Death
Daily Axillary
and Pubic Shaving
Cause of Death
Suicide Other Causes*
n (%) n (%)
Present 65 (31.6) 26 (1.0)
Absent 141 (68.4) 2618 (99.0)
Total 206 (100.0) 2644 (100.0)
2
⫽577.793, df ⫽1, P⫽0.000.
*Accidental, homicidal, and natural deaths.
FIGURE 1. Methods of suicide.
FIGURE 2. Daily axillary shaving.
The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology • Volume 29, Number 4, December 2008 Is DAPS a Feature of Suicide?
© 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 331
called depilation when removing only the hair above the skin,
or epilation when removing the entire hair.
6
Although the majority of men do not shave their axil-
lae, many women do so for esthetic/cultural reasons, a prac-
tice that may be connected to the overall body hair distribu-
tion of the sexes. Today, in many countries, especially in
most of the Western and/or English-speaking world, it is
common for women (and sometimes men) to shave off their
axillary hair regularly for esthetic reasons if it is likely to be
in view, although the prevalence of this varies widely.
7
In
Japan, it is common for women to shave their axillary hair,
but not to shave or even trim their pubic hair. This is thought
to be influenced by the public baths, such as onsens. Another
reason for women keeping pubic hair in Japan is theorized to
be the lolita obsession, in which pubic hair is a sign of a
young girl blooming into puberty; thus the woman wants to
appear youthful, so she keeps her pubic hair.
8
Religious reasons and personal cleanliness require-
ments are sometimes cited. Tonsure is the practice of some
Christian churches, and some Hindu and Buddhist temples
require shaving the hair from the scalp of priests as a symbol
of their renunciation of worldly fashion and esteem. Jewish
men are forbidden by the Torah to shave their facial hair with
a razor. Whether it is permitted to shave with an electric razor
is a matter of debate among Jewish legal pundits, but most are
lenient. Sikhs take an even stronger stance, opposing all
forms of hair removal. One of the Sikh “Five Ks” is kesh,
meaning “uncut hair.” To Sikhs, the maintenance and man-
agement of long hair is a manifestation of one’s piety.
1
Muslim law (Sharia) places hair in 3 categories: (1) that
which is recommended to be removed (pubic and axillary
hair), (2) that which is recommended to be maintained (the
beard), and (3) that which is the object of limited recommen-
dations (feet, hands, back, and chest hair). Removal of axil-
lary and pubic hair is a hygienic practice that was taught by
the prophet Muhammad and which was espoused as having
been part of practices conforming to man’s premortal (ie,
fitrah) nature. It was advised by Islamism to have the
moustache cut, nails cut, and axillae and pubic shavings
within 40 days.
1,9
According to Islamism, suicide is killing oneself who
was created by God. For this reason, as in other monotheistic
religions, suicide is one of the greatest sins in Islamism.
However, committing a suicide for a person is not an obstacle
for religious ceremony. The person who commits a suicide is
not expelled from religion. The person is washed with ritual
ablution and genital areas are closed during washing. The
TABLE 3. DAPS and Age Groups
Daily Axillary and Pubic Shaving
Age Groups (yr)
<20 20–29 30–39 40–49 50–59 60–69 >70
n (%) n (%) n (%) n (%) n (%) n (%) n (%)
Present 7 (21.9) 19 (32.8) 9 (28.1) 16 (42.1) 7 (33.3) 3 (20.0) 4 (40.0)
Absent 25 (78.1) 39 (67.2) 23 (71.9) 22 (57.9) 14 (66.7) 12 (80.0) 6 (60.0)
Total 32 (100.0) 58 (100.0) 32 (100.0) 38 (100.0) 21 (100.0) 15 (100.0) 10 (100.0)
2
⫽4.848, df⫽6, P⬎0.005.
TABLE 4. DAPS and Gender
Daily Axillary and Pubic Shaving
Gender
Male Female
n (%) n (%)
Present 44 (30.1) 21 (35.0)
Absent 102 (69.9) 39 (65.0)
Total 146 (100.0) 60 (100.0)
2
⫽0.466, df ⫽1, P⬎0.005.
TABLE 5. DAPS and Suicide Note
Daily Axillary and Pubic Shaving
Suicide Note
Present Absent
n (%) n (%)
Present 14 (56.0) 11 (44.0)
Absent 51 (28.2) 130 (71.8)
Total 65 (31.6) 141 (68.4)
2
⫽7.873, df ⫽1, P⫽0.005.
FIGURE 3. Daily pubic shaving.
TABLE 2. DAPS and Method of Suicide
Daily Axillary
and Pubic Shaving
Method of Suicide
Hanging
Firearm
Injury Intoxication
Other
Methods
n (%) n (%) n (%) n (%)
Present 42 (42.0) 11 (20.4) 8 (21.6) 4 (26.7)
Absent 58 (58.0) 43 (79.6) 29 (78.4) 11 (73.3)
Total 100 (100.0) 54 (100.0) 37 (100.0) 15 (100.0)
2
⫽10.036, df ⫽3, P⬎0.005.
Demirci et al The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology • Volume 29, Number 4, December 2008
© 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins332
washing process is completed with pouring some water on the
dead body by the relatives.
10 –13
Although determination of origin in medicolegal death
cases is under the authority of the prosecutor or judge,
evidence showing that this action was committed by the
victim can be determined during the investigation of the death
scene and the examination of the corpse, eg, leaving a suicide
note, a previous history of a suicidal attempt, and evidence
showing that the mechanism of the suicide method was set up
by the victim.
In our study, a suicide note was found in only 12.1% of
the cases that were deemed to be of suicidal origin. However,
it was found that the rate of DAPS, due both to religious and
socio-cultural reasons as a part of a suicide action, was
31.6%, which was higher than the frequency of suicide notes.
Consequently, this finding indicates that DAPS may occur
more frequently in comparison with suicide notes in the
suicide cases of Muslim societies. Additionally, it was deter-
mined that the rate of people having DAPS was significantly
higher in the people leaving a suicide note (56%) than of
people not doing so (28.2%; P⫽0.005). Both leaving a
suicide note and having DAPS for a victim may be thought of
as indicators of a planned suicide. Before suicidal action,
having DAPS may be evaluated as a preparation for suicide
and applied more frequently than leaving a suicide note.
In our study, the rate of DAPS in other medicolegal
deaths due to nonsuicidal reasons (eg, accidental, homicidal,
and natural deaths) was determined to be 1.0%. There was a
significant difference between the suicidal and nonsuicidal
deaths in terms of having DAPS (P⫽0.000), whereas there
was no significant difference between the methods of suicide,
age groups, and genders in terms of DAPS (P⬎0.005). In
Turkey, a person who attempts suicide may consider shaving
the pubic and axillary hair before the suicidal action due to a
religious requirement, as well as the thought of being con-
sidered dirty during the washing tradition of the body after
death. It was thought that the person had shaved their pubic
and axillary hair with this concern in mind just before suicide,
which was the part of the planned suicidal action. Our study
was performed on 2850 medicolegal death cases, all of whom
were Muslims. This is a preliminary study. It is considered
that similar studies on the corpses of Muslims, as well as on
the corpses of people from other religions, and atheists will
shed light upon the relationship, if any, between deaths of
suicidal origin and DAPS in medicolegal death cases.
In conclusion, in investigating medicolegal death cases
believed to be of suicidal origin, evidence showing that this
action was committed by the victim, the presence of a suicide
note at the death scene, and a history of a previous suicidal
attempt, the presence of DAPS on the external examination of
the victim’s body, when of the Muslim faith, may also be
considered a feature of suicide.
REFERENCES
1. Hair removal. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Available at: http://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_removal. Accessed April 2, 2007.
2. Al-Mawrid Institute of Islamic Studies. 关homepage on the internet兴.
Shaving Pubic Hair. Available at: http://www.understanding-islam.com/
rb/mb-049.htm. Accessed March 14, 2007.
3. Islamic Research Foundation, Inc. 关homepage on the internet兴. Syed IB. Grow-
ing Beard: Is It Mandatory In Islam? Available at: http://www.irfi.org/articles/
articles_201_250/growing_beard_is_it_mandatory_in_islam.htm. Accessed
March 14, 2007.
4. Turkish Foundation of Statistics 关homepage on the internet兴. Population
by city, inhabitant group and gender. Available at: http://www.tuik.
gov.tr/PreIstatistikTablo.do?istab_id⫽209. Accessed March 3, 2007.
5. US Department of State 关homepage on the internet兴. Background Note:
Turkey. Available at: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3432.htm. Accessed
April 2, 2007.
6. Pubic hair. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Available at: http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Pubic_hair. Accessed April 2, 2007.
7. Underarm hair. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Available at: http://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underarm_hair. Accessed April 2, 2007.
8. Acomoclitism. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Available from: http://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acomoclitism. Accessed April 2, 2007.
9. Canan I. Kutub-i Sitte. Hadith Encyclopedia, Vol 7. Ankara, Turkey:
Akcag Publications; 1992:33–39.
10. Intihar. Available at: http://fikih.ihya.org/ans.php?t2⫽oku&an⫽581&g⫽
Qm94&s⫽1. Accessed April 2, 2007.
11. Preperation of the Deceased and Janajah Prayers. Available at: www.
mcb.org.uk/library/Burial_etiquette.pdf. Accessed April 2, 2007.
12. Washing of the deceased. Encyclopedia of Fiqh. Available at: http://
www.sorularlaislamiyet.com/subpage.php?s⫽article&aid⫽7541. Accessed
April 2, 2007.
13. Sabiq S. Fiqh as-Sunnah, Vol 4. Indianapolis, IN: American Trust
Publications,. 1968:69–138.
The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology • Volume 29, Number 4, December 2008 Is DAPS a Feature of Suicide?
© 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 333
