Fridae

Pesantren Waria is a powerful and innovative Islamic school created by and for trans persons in Indonesia, Not Only Voices reports. 

Co-founder and director Shinta Ratri is 54 years old and has been living as a trans Muslim woman since she was 18.

Together with a network of other waria, as transgender Muslim women in Indonesia are known,  she founded a Madrasa. 

The Madrasa has about 40 regular students and gained ground and respect amongst the local Muslim community.

In 2016, the school faced some challenges from police and conservative neighbours, but they won't give up.

Not Only Voices visited the Madrasa and talked to 12 trans women.