Indonesia’s first Muslim transgender boarding school forced to close

Indonesia’s first transgender boarding school has been forced to close, according to Arab Herald.

Al Fatah claimed it was the only Islamic boarding school for transgender students in the world but has been forced to close down by a group called the Islamic Jihad Front because it’s “immoral”.

This comes after the group have begun putting pressure on the gay community, pornography and alcohol, shutting down festivals that focus on women’s issues and churches that don’t practice Islam.

Agnes Dwi Rusjiyati, the local coordinator of activist group Bhinneka Tunggal Ika National Alliance said that “intolerant groups have been imposing their rigid beliefs on people.”

Al Fatah was founded in 2008 and sits in a labyrinth of alleyways in the district of Yogyakarta. Despite the retaliation, a small group of students continue to gather at the building to pray and study Islam.

The closure of Al Fatah is another move of intolerance that is sweeping over the country as Indonesia is moving to block gay dating apps.

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