The Chinese government’s ongoing campaign to vilify the Dalai Lama and suppress any public expression of reverence toward him constitutes a serious violation of international human rights law. A recent ICT report, ‘Celebrating in Fear: China’s Crackdown on Dalai Lama Birthday Tributes in Tibet’, highlights the threats faced by Tibetans in Tibet and urges the international community — including United Nations bodies, national governments, parliaments, and civil society organizations—to call on China to cease its repressive actions.
Specifically, the international community should demand that the Chinese authorities:
– Refrain from persecuting Tibetans who wish to peacefully celebrate the Dalai Lama’s birthday, in public and private;
– Immediately and unconditionally release the three Tibetans Drugdra, Lobsang Khedrup and Lobsang Gephel still imprisoned for participating in past birthday celebrations; allow for access of family members, legal representation and, if needed, medical care;
– Respect the right to freedom of religion or belief of Tibetans, as per international law;
– End the campaign to vilify the Dalai Lama and stop persecuting those who express reverence to him, in public and private, online and offline;
– Re-enter into a meaningful dialogue with the representatives of the Dalai Lama in order to achieve a lasting solution to the China-Tibet conflict.
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