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Sheltered away from the society that marginalises them, these are the waria of Indonesia.

Transexual and transgender people are often shunned in the largely conservative country, and many choose to move to a community on the island of Java.

Here they could, until last year, attend an Islamic boarding school for transgender learners, thought to be the only one in the world.

Now the waria - a term which combines the Indonesian words 'wanita' and 'pria', which mean woman and man - often gather in the building to pray, but the school shut after a public outcry last year.

Shintra Ratri, who founded the Pondok Pesantren Waria Al-Fatah religious school in 2008, before it was forced to close

Shintra Ratri, who founded the Pondok Pesantren Waria Al-Fatah religious school in 2008, before it was forced to close

The building acts as a haven for Indonesia's waria community, who face increasing discrimination

The building acts as a haven for Indonesia's waria community, who face increasing discrimination

Transexual and transgender people are often shunned in the largely conservative country, and many choose to move to a community on the island of Java

Transexual and transgender people are often shunned in the largely conservative country, and many choose to move to a community on the island of Java

Nevertheless, defiant teachers continue to hold occasional classes for those of the 42 students who continue their learning.

A series of photographs taken in the community of Yogyakarta, where around 300 waria live, give a fascinating insight into the lives of the marginalised group.

Last year Shinta Ratri, a waria activist who founded the Pondok Pesantren Waria Al-Fatah religious school, told : 'It was a place to pray together, to learn about Islam together. 

The series of photographs taken in the community of Yogyakarta, where around 300 waria live, give a fascinating insight into the lives of the marginalised group

The series of photographs taken in the community of Yogyakarta, where around 300 waria live, give a fascinating insight into the lives of the marginalised group

In the past 12 months, the community has come under fire. The Indonesian higher education minister led calls to ban LGBT groups from campuses because they were not 'in accordance with the values and morals of Indonesia'

In the past 12 months, the community has come under fire.

The Indonesian higher education minister led calls to ban LGBT groups from campuses because they were not 'in accordance with the values and morals of Indonesia'

The building now serves as a community centre for the waria, who can be victims of ridicule, violence and poverty

The building now serves as a community centre for the waria, who can be victims of ridicule, violence and poverty

'Waria were uncomfortable praying in public mosques, so I thought it would be better for us to be together than sitting alone in our homes with our spiritual questions only in our hearts.'

The building now serves as a community centre for the waria, who can be victims of ridicule, violence and TRAVESTIS LISBOA poverty.

A large proportion have no families or legal identities, and few can afford gender reassignment surgery, so often retain their male genitalia.

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