Indonesia, Java Island, 
S. (56) is sleeping on the ground, chained to a column. He used to be an entrepreneur but says he was haunted by black magic from head to toe, attacked and bitten by ghosts, and left with pain all over his body. He has many secrets, and when he shares them, people make fun of him. He insists he’s not crazy and that the injections he receives don’t do anything, but the pain is gone, and he believes he’s almost cured. With a sense of pride, he tells me he’s shackled because he has tried to escape three times. The man sleeping next to him is P. (46). He tells me he raped a woman and feels bad about it, but says he apologized, paid a fine of 15 million rupiah, and spent three months in prison. He was transferred to this center two months ago.

Indonesia, Java Island, 
R. (70), standing on the right in the cell is crying. She has been here for ten years but does not know why. “Someone from my family brought me here,” she says. In the middle, S. (38), arrived five years ago. Her son also spent a year with her here, but he is now healed and works as a farmer for the center. The three women in the picture were given a shower by a man, a former patient who now works at the center.

Indonesia, Java Island, 
In the back, I. 25 years old, is chained to a wooden bed. He is so weak that he cannot stand. He was brought to this rehabilitation center in Central Java by the police after a roundup. Often, people forgotten by their families and by society wander the streets, half-naked and malnourished, until they are picked up by the police or social services and taken to facilities like this one. In front, I. (60), has been here for 2 months. He is from the next town over and was also brought here by the police.

Indonesia, Java Island, 
S. (44), has been here for a year. His family brought him here after a 10-day-stay in the hospital. He says he has mental health issues. He likes the center, but he prefers the hospital.

Indonesia, Java Island, 
L. on the left, is 20 years old.  When I ask her how she feels, she says that she is not well. She repeats, "of course" and "thank you so much", over and over. 
On the right, U. (34), is eating off the floor in her cell.  Says she was born in 1991. According to the caretaker, she likes to be naked all the time and lies on the cold tiles to cool off. She has been here for eight years but when I ask, she tells me she has been here for 41 years. Every time I talk to her she gives me a different name. She refuses to leave the cell. When she wants to shower, she is hosed down through the bars with cold water.

Indonesia, Java Island, U. (34) - she says she was born in 1991 - is eating off the floor in her cell. According to the caretaker, she likes to be naked all the time and sleeps on the cold tiles to cool off. She has been here for eight years but when I ask her, she tells me she has been here for 41 years. Every time I talk to her she gives me a different name. She refuses to leave the cell and when she wants to wash, she is hosed down through the bars with cold water.

Indonesia, Java Island, No one knows anything about this person, only that she is from Papua and does not speak.

Indonesia, Java Island, E. (45), just arrived two days ago. He says this pile of garbage is his favorite place because he likes to play.  He says he is not well and the center is helping him. When I ask him what he is wearing, he shows me pieces of plastic.

Indonesia, Java Island, R. (53), has been here for 4 months. A former patient who recovered at the center has just washed him. Now he is lost in his thoughts playing with the soap.

Indonesia, Java Island, A., chained on a cement plot, has been here for three months. He tells me he is 4 years old.  His friends in the background says he's 17. When I ask him why he is here, he does not understand the question. He simply replies that he is shackled. 


Indonesia, Java Island, S. has been here for four years and is quite violent, throwing things like his towel or plate at visitors and caregivers (this photo). A caretaker tells me he was in the military and suffers from PTSD.

Indonesia, Java Island, S. around 40 years old, lies with his feet shackled and arms extended like a cross on the hardwood bed in his cell. He was chained by his family in his home, which is unfortunately often the case when families cannot cope and are embarrassed by the psychosocial disabilities of their relatives. He was rescued by social services and brought to this center 15 days ago. He is violent and wants to kill someone. When I was taking his picture, he was boxing in the air most of the time. The manager of the facility thinks he can be cured.

Indonesia, Java Island, 
R.(20), was saved by a local YouTuber active in rescuing people in distress. The boy's mother had locked him in a cage for two years, where he was forced to crouch, after he became a nuisance in the village, displacing motorcycles. Now at this center, he's getting physical therapy to help him stand again. D. (45), one of the caretakers is washing him.

Indonesia, Java Island, 
A., lying on the floor, has been here for three months. He tells me he is four years old.  His friend says he's 17. When I ask him why he is here, he does not understand the question. He simply replies that he is shackled.

Indonesia, Java Island, I. (60), has been here for 2 months. He is from the next town over and was brought here by the police.

Indonesia, Java Island, U. (34) - she says she was born in 1991 - is eating off the floor in her cell. According to the caretaker, she likes to be naked all the time and sleeps on the cold tiles to cool off. She has been here for eight years but when I ask her, she tells me she has been here for 41 years. Every time I talk to her she gives me a different name. She refuses to leave the cell and when she wants to wash, she is hosed down through the bars with cold water.

Indonesia, Java Island, 
The four men in this photo are chained. Sitting in the back left on the cement block to which he is chained is H. (28). He's been here for a year. His brother brought him here, but he doesn't know why. It's OK though, he loves it here and does not want to leave. 
In the middle, lying on the floor, wearing a pink shirt, M. (52) has been here for three months after he was released from the hospital. Voices in his head told him to cut off his fingers, so he did.  
In the foreground on the right, E. (40) has been here for six months. He says he's cured and that the center taught him how to heal; with fruit, leaves, etc. His speech is confused and makes no sense.

Indonesia, Java Island, 
N. a young patient at a rehabilitation center, says she is 11 years old. It is impossible to talk to her as she is constantly singing or shouting and does not listen or answer. When she speaks, her language is utterly incomprehensible. She sings and dances gracefully around the cell. At the end of her performance, she makes birdlike wing movements with her arms, then perches herself on the edge of her wooden bed lost in her thoughts.

Indonesia, Java Island, 
This is one of the worst places I visited during my reportage. Every resident in this center is shackled, forced to eat, sleep, and defecate within the limits of their chains. Food is scarce, and every meal is the same: rice, cassava, and tempeh. S. (54) on the left with the hood has been here for eight months. S. (23) years old has been here for three years. They plead for cigarettes, food and help.

Indonesia, Java Island, B. (50), is chained and lying on the ground in the central aisle. He has been here for a long time but does not know exactly how long. He speaks in a whisper and seems exhausted.

Indonesia, Java Island, B. (66) worked in a salon doing manicures and pedicures until 1981 when he was institutionalized for mental illness. He has been in this facility for 7 months. He knows that he is mentally ill and repeatedly asks for cigarettes.

Indonesia, Java Island, 
I. 25 years old, is chained to a wooden bed. He is so weak that he cannot stand. He was brought to this rehabilitation center in Central Java by the police after a roundup. Often, people forgotten by their families and by society wander the streets, half-naked and malnourished, until they are picked up by the police or social services and taken to facilities like this one.

Indonesia, Java Island, In a rehabilitation center, a group of men recite the funeral prayer (Salât Al-Janaza) for E. (50) who died of asthma. He was mentally ill with mood and temper swings. According to Islam, it is essential to pray over the remains of every Muslim before burial. The funeral prayer differs from other traditional prayers as it is performed standing, without bowing or prostration, and must be performed in a group.

Indonesia, Java Island, 
Several patients, including a girl in a wheelchair, sitting outside a row of cells. The cells have iron mesh doors, and the alley is enclosed by a steel fence (not seen in the picture) to ensure that no one can escape. It looks like a prison, but this is one of the few centers in Java where I did not see any patients shackled. On the contrary, it seemed like a very warm and welcoming environment as when I was there they had organized an event in a large courtyard to raise money for the center. Many of the residents were singing and performing in front of a camera that was streaming live on Instagram. The particularity of this facility is that they only take in people from the street. They do not accept individuals brought by families.  The center is funded solely by private donors and does not receive any subsidies from the government.

Indonesia, Java Island, 
R. (70), standing on the right in the cell, is wearing a long turquoise dress. She has been here for ten years but does not know why. “Someone from my family brought me here,” she says. On the left, S. (38), wearing a white dress, arrived five years ago. Her son also spent a year with her here, but he is now healed and works as a farmer for the center. The three women in the picture were given a shower by a man, a former patient who now works at the center.

Indonesia, Java Island, F. (46), has been here for eight months. She was healed and returned home, but she could not adjust and asked the center to take her back.

Indonesia, Java Island, M. does not know his age, but he tells me life is better here. He glances at me briefly before turning away. Behind him, in a blue shirt, is H. He says he is 14 and has been at the center for three months because he is “crazy.” He says they are helping him here and that he has made many friends. At the end of the interview, he tells me he was born in 1986, which would make him 39.

Indonesia, Java Island, 
N. a young patient at a rehabilitation center, says she is 11 years old. It is impossible to talk to her as she is constantly singing or shouting and does not listen or answer. When she speaks, her language is utterly incomprehensible. She sings and dances gracefully around the cell. At the end of her performance, she makes birdlike wing movements with her arms, then perches herself on the edge of her wooden bed lost in her thoughts.

Indonesia, Java Island, S. (45) is shackled in a small cell with very limited light. He is calm but still shouts and cries most of the time. It is impossible to interview him or even talk to him.