A transgender Islamic school in Pakistan breaks barriers

Pakistan’s first transgender-only madrasa (Islamic religious school) is breaking barriers. Set up by Rani Khan, the school gives Koran lessons and marks an important milestone for the LGBTQIA+ community in the country.

A long white shawl on her head, Rani Khan gives daily Koran lessons at Pakistan’s first transgender-only madrasa, or Islamic religious school, which she set up herself using her life savings. The madrasa is an important milestone for the LGBTQIA+ community in the overwhelmingly fundamental Muslim country, where transgender people face ostracism, even though there is no official restriction on them attending religious schools or praying at mosques. “Most families do not accept transgender people. They throw them out of their homes. Transgender people turn to wrongdoing,” Khan, 34, said, as other transgender people, their heads similarly covered, swayed back and forth behind her, reciting Koran verses.