• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to footer
  • FR
  • Offices
    • Amsterdam
    • Berlin
    • Washington DC

International Campaign for Tibet - Brussels Office

  • About us
    • About International Campaign for Tibet
    • The Brussels Office
    • Contact us
  • About Tibet
    • Overview
    • Religious freedom
    • Environment
    • Suppression of dissent
    • Access to Tibet
  • The EU and Tibet
    • EU-China Relations
    • European Parliament
      • Resolutions
      • Intergroup
    • EU Council / EU Presidency
    • European External Action Service
    • Recommendations
  • News & Resources
  • Our Work
    • At the United Nations
    • Publications

Repression of religious freedom

In recent years, the Chinese government has tightened its control of Tibetan Buddhism, which it sees as a threat to the Chinese state because it is an expression of a distinct Tibetan identity, and because Buddhist institutions have the potential to unify and empower individuals outside the Party state.

Under President Xi Jinping in particular, Tibetan Buddhism has been the main target of proactive policies aimed at “Sinicizing” religion, meaning to shape religion to the diktats of the Chinese Communist Party for political purposes. To do so, the Chinese government has created an authorised catalogue of verified ‘living Buddhas’, halved the 10,000 resident population of the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy, increased “political re-education” campaigns for monks and nuns, and formal training for Tibetan Buddhist teachers and cadres posted to monasteries. In addition, the authorities have adopted a number of laws and measures equating ‘terrorism’ with an undefined ‘extremism’ linked to religion, thereby creating a more dangerous political environment for monks, nuns and lay Buddhists.

A Tibetan monk in front of the gates of his monastery in Barkham (in Chinese: Ma’erkang), in Sichuan province. He is surrounded by propaganda posters: on his right Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin; on his left, Hu Jinatao surrounded by Tibetan women in front of the Potala Palace in Lassa. (© Gilles Sabrié)

At the same time, small acts of religious freedom – including worship of the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama – are still criminalized in most parts of Tibet. Restrictions on religious practices have been placed on government workers, with many threatened with losing their identity cards, social benefits and jobs, and controls on children participating in religious activities have been strengthened. As part of its objective to contain and control Tibetan Buddhism, the Chinese state has also indicated plans to appoint its own reincarnation of the 14th Dalai Lama, in total contravention to Buddhist religious tradition and the fundamental right of Tibetan Buddhist communities to follow their own spiritual process without government interference.

Related news and resources

China closes sacred temple around Tibetan National Uprising Day

March 7, 2023 ・ International Campaign for TibetNews

China closes sacred temple around Tibetan National Uprising Day

In an apparent attempt to thwart any potential incidents during the sensitive period surrounding the anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising of March 10, 1959, Chinese authorities have announced the closure of the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa for pilgrims from March 8 to 10, 2023.

August 4, 2022 ・ International Campaign for TibetNews

Ban on Tibetan Buddhist teachers in Guangdong’s Yunfu City

The government-backed Chinese Buddhist Association in the coastal province of Guangdong has called to “resolutely resist illegal preaching by Tibetan monks” in a move similar to previous notices issued in China’s Shanxi Province.

Tibetan monasteries face tighter control under new religious financial management measures

June 1, 2022 ・ International Campaign for TibetNews

Tibetan monasteries face tighter control under new religious financial management measures

Controls on Tibetan Buddhist monasteries look set to tighten with the coming into force of China’s “Measures for the Financial Management of Religious Activity Sites.”

View all

Footer

The Tibet Brief

A newsletter providing concise information and perspectives on the political, economic and human rights situation in Tibet

About us

The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) is an international NGO working to promote democratic freedoms for Tibetans, ensure their human rights and protect the Tibetan culture and environment.

Read more

  • FR
  • Offices
    • Amsterdam
    • Berlin
    • Washington DC

Copyright ©2023 · International Campaign for Tibet - All Rights Reserved

By continuing to browse this site, you agree to our use of cookies.