The country's only Islamic centre for trans women is in jeopardy after the death of its leader.
The Islamic Centre of Al-Fatah in Yogyakarta, Indonesia has around 63 members, all of whom are trans womenThe future of Indonesia's only Islamic community centre for transgender women is in jeopardy after its leader, Shinta Ratri, died in February - and the government says it cannot support it.
Ms Rini first heard of the Islamic centre for trans women from a friend who also wanted to study religion.At mosques, she would often get odd looks when she went to pray. "They did not necessarily accept us. So I went to Shinta Ratri's place," she says. Ms Nur describes Ms Shinta as a guiding light, and the closest thing she had to family. Without her, the centre feels "empty and desolate".
In a larger context, the state "supports all positive activities", he says in a phone call with BBC News Indonesia. "People want to pray, why should they be refused?" "Islam should be able to provide space for anyone to be able to worship freely according to the ways of the religion," Ms Rully insists.
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