What changed

B100259/2025

P10_TA(2025)0097

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on violationsViolations of religious freedom in Tibet

(2025/2692(RSP))

PE772.555

having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

European Parliament resolution of 8 May 2025 on violations of religious freedom in Tibet (2025/2692(RSP))

– having regard to its previous resolutions on ChinaTibet and Tibet,China,

A. whereas on March 29, 2025, Tibetan Buddhist leader Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche reportedly died under unclear circumstances in Chinese custody in Vietnam following his disappearance;

– having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

B. whereas the legitimate 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, was abducted by Chinese authorities in 1995 and has been missing ever since;

A. whereas, under the leadership of Xi Jinping, the Chinese authorities have become increasingly oppressive; whereas the human rights situation in Tibet continues to deteriorate; whereas respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law should be at the centre of the EU’s relations with China;

C. whereas May 17th marks the 30th anniversary of his abduction;

B. whereas Tulku Hungkar Dorje, a respected Tibetan Buddhist religious leader and humanitarian figure, died on 28 March 2025 under suspicious circumstances while in custody in Vietnam, following his arrest by Vietnamese and Chinese authorities; whereas his body was reportedly cremated without the consent of his family, raising serious concerns;

D. whereas on January 2025, several monks from Kirti Monastery in Ngaba were detained for participating in a prayer ceremony commemorating Dalai Lama’s teachings, reportedly held without formal charges and denied access to legal representation;

C. whereas Tibetan Buddhists, who are systemically targeted by Chinese authorities and face forced disappearances and physical abuse, represent the largest religious group among political prisoners in China;

E. whereas the human rights situation inside Tibet continues to deteriorate, with reports of arbitrary detention, surveillance, cultural repression, and restrictions on movement and expression; whereas Tibetan Buddhism is increasingly subject to state interference, including mandatory alignment with the ideology of the Chinese Communist Party, state-controlled religious education, and the imposition of political content into monastic life; whereas religious communities have the right to carry out their essential functions freely, without external coercion;

D. whereas credible reports identify extensive pressure from Chinese authorities on Rinpoches to align with the Chinese Communist Party’s narrative, including forced interrogations and attempts to enforce support for the Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama;

F. whereas UN experts have underlined that nearly one million Tibetan children are being forcibly placed in state-run residential schools aimed at cultural and linguistic assimilation, where Tibetan language and traditions are excluded, reflecting a broader policy of forced assimilation;

1. Strongly condemns the repressive assimilation policies throughout PRC and their violations of universal human rights, especially in Tibet, which seek to eliminate distinct Tibetan religious and cultural traditions and heritage; calls for a clear separation between State and religion in China;

1. Expresses deep concern over the suspicious disappearance and sudden death of Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche in Chinese custody in Vietnam;

2. Firmly opposes any attempt by the Chinese Government to interfere in the selection of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leaders, including the Dalai Lama;

2.3. CallsExpresses onits Vietnamdeep andconcern Chinaand tosorrow determineover the circumstancessuspicious death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche’s disappearance, death and theextends hastits cremationsincere ofcondolences histo bodyhis withoutfamily, hismonastery family’sand consent;followers;

3. Condemns the abduction of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, by the Chinese authorities and demands verifiable information about his fate;

4. Strongly condemns the continued persecution of Tibetan religious and cultural leaders and the practice of transnational repression by Chinese authorities, including the cultural and linguistic assimilation of children in state-run residential schools, reflecting a broader policy of forced assimilation; calls for the suspension of extradition treaties with the PRC;

4. Urges the PRC government to fully respect its obligations under international law in Tibet, particularly with regard to the protection of cultural identity, freedom of religion or belief; condemns ongoing policies and practices that lead to the systematic erosion of Tibetan cultural and religious heritage, including restrictions on religious expression, interference in the selection of religious leaders, and the imposition of state ideology in monastic institutions;

5. Calls for an immediate, independent, impartial and transparent investigation into his death, with international oversight and access to evidence and witnesses, and the immediate return of his remains;

5. Calls on the EU to impose6. targetedDemands sanctionsthat underthose EUresponsible Globalfor Humanwrongdoing Rightsbe Sanctionsheld Regimeaccountable againstunder Chineseinternational officialshuman responsiblerights forstandards religiousand repressionlaw; indemands Tibet;that Encouragesthe EU institutions and Member States to supportimpose Centralsanctions Tibetanon Administration’sofficials effortsand toentities preserveresponsible Tibetanfor culturehuman andrights religionviolations in exile;Tibet;

6. Expresses its support for the Tibetan Buddhist community to freely appoint the community’s religious leaders and uphold their cultural, linguistic, and religious freedoms without interference, and the right to preserve their distinct identity; recalls the EU's firm position that the succession of the Dalai Lama must be determined solely by Tibetan Buddhist traditions, and condemns the PRC’s attempts to manipulate this process

7. Urges the PRC to uphold its obligations under international law and cease all discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities, allow peaceful religious practice, and release all religious and political prisoners, including the rightful Panchen Lama and Ilham Tohti;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EU Institutions, Member States, the government of the People’s Republic of China, and the government of Vietnam

8. Urges the EU and Member States to raise this case in bilateral and multilateral dialogues with PRC and Vietnam, and demand accountability for human rights violations in Tibet; insists on also raising the repression of other religious minorities such as the Uyghurs in Xinjiang;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EUSR, the governments of PRC and Vietnam, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Central Tibetan Administration.