Monk Sentenced to 18 Months for Sharing Dalai Lama Teachings on WeChat

Dalai Lama

Chinese authorities have sentenced a Tibetan Buddhist monk to 18 months in prison for sharing teachings from the Dalai Lama on WeChat, with details of his trial kept from family members. The monk, known as Xiangba, was arrested on March 10, the anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising, and has been held at Regong prison since March 22 before being moved to Xining to serve his sentence.

Xiangba, who went into exile in India in 1986 and returned to Tibet in 1996, has taught Buddhism and calligraphy in Regong. His family claims they were not informed of his arrest or trial and were threatened against inquiring about his situation.

The incident highlights ongoing efforts by Chinese authorities to suppress Tibetan culture, including recent bans on the Tibetan language in schools and restrictions on religious sites during significant holidays.

Monk Sentenced to 18 Months for Sharing Dalai Lama Teachings on WeCha