The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) on Thursday released its 2025 Annual Report on the Human Rights Situation in Tibet, painting a grim picture of worsening repression and tightening state control across Tibet under the People’s Republic of China.
The report, published in Tibetan, English and Chinese, documents what it describes as an escalating human rights crisis marked by severe restrictions on religious freedom, freedom of expression, education, cultural identity and peaceful dissent.
Outlining the reports, Dawa said Tibet remained one of the least free places in the world in 2025, receiving a Global Freedom Score of zero out of 100 from Freedom House. It states that under the continued leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) intensified efforts to consolidate political and ideological control through tighter legal regulations, political indoctrination, heightened surveillance and policies aimed at reshaping Tibetan identity.
The report highlights increasing state interference in Tibetan religious life, noting that new measures have further strengthened party control over monasteries and religious institutions. Monastic communities have reportedly been required to align more closely with CCP ideology, while religious practices continue to face growing scrutiny and regulation.
Particular attention was drawn to restrictions imposed around the 90 birthday celebrations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The report alleges that Chinese authorities enforced extensive security measures, intensified censorship and cracked down on public expressions of devotion to the Tibetan spiritual leader, reflecting what it describes as Beijing’s continuing efforts to suppress Tibetan religious identity.
The annual report also points to the accelerating erosion of Tibetan language and culture. Mandarin Chinese, it says, continues to dominate educational institutions, while new policies governing early childhood education have further reduced opportunities for Tibetan-medium learning. These developments are described as part of a broader state strategy aimed at weakening the transmission of Tibetan language and cultural traditions to future generations.
Environmental activism and peaceful protest also came under pressure during the year, according to the report. Tibetans opposing mining operations and infrastructure projects allegedly faced mass arrests, intimidation, surveillance, violence and forms of collective punishment affecting entire communities.
Among the most serious cases documented was the alleged extrajudicial killing of Tibetan religious leader Tulku Hungkar Dorje in Vietnam. The report states that the religious leader died following his detention during a joint operation involving Chinese and Vietnamese authorities. TCHRD said the incident raises serious concerns about China’s growing transnational repression and the targeting of Tibetan religious figures and activists beyond its borders.
The report argues that state control in Tibet has evolved beyond conventional political suppression into a deeply institutionalised system affecting nearly every aspect of Tibetan life, including religion, language, education, culture and personal expression.
Calling for greater transparency and accountability, TCHRD sought the Chinese government to allow unrestricted access to Tibet for independent researchers, journalists and United Nations Special Rapporteurs. The organisation also appealed to the international community to press China to uphold its human rights obligations and respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of Tibetans living inside Tibet.
