Paris — The European Parliament on Wednesday adopted a resolution on “Violations of religious freedom in Tibet”, strongly condemning China's repressive assimilation policies in Tibet and firmly opposed China's attempts to interfere in the selection of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet.
According to the Tibet Office in Brussels, the European Parliament, at its plenary session in Strasbourg from May 5 to 8, 2025, adopted a resolution entitled “Violations of religious freedom in Tibet”, and it condemned Chinese government's violations of religious freedom in Tibet.
The resolution strongly opposes the Chinese government's continued interference in the selection of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leaders, in particular the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet. It also denounces the Chinese government's oppressive actions, which seek to eliminate distinct Tibetan religious and cultural traditions and heritage. The resolution call on China and EU to respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law should be at the centre of the EU’s relations with China.
The MEPs said that 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.
The Resolution states, "the European Parliament 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."
"The European Parliamen firmly opposes any attempt by the Chinese Government to interfere in the selection of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leaders, including the Dalai Lama," the resolution declares.
The European Parliamen strongly condemned 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.
The member of European Parliament also rasied serious concerns of the sudden death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje, the Tibetan Buddhist religious leader in Vietnam and expresses its deep concern and sorrow over the suspicious death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje and extends its sincere condolences to his family, monastery and followers. Tulku Dorje Rinpoche disappeared in September 2024, after Chinese authorities from the Qinghai Provincial Police Department interrogated him about his composition of a long-life prayer for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and accused him of failing to implement Chinese government education policies in his Golok schools. At the end of September 2024, he fled to Vietnam and lived there until March 25, 2025, under difficult circumstances. Sadly, Rinpoche died on March 29, 2025 in Vietnam, after being arrested by Vietnamese police and Chinese agents on March 25, 2025.
The European Parliament "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; Demands that those responsible for wrongdoing be held accountable under international human rights standards and law; demands that the EU impose sanctions on officials and entities responsible for human rights violations in Tibet."
It also "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."
The European Parliament "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."
EU's resolution, "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."
