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RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN TIBET
UN, EU & Human Rights Desk
Department of Information and International Relations
Central Tibetan Administration
Dharamshala-176215 INDIA
Email: euhrdesk@tibet.net
Website: www.tibet.net2
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN TIBET
Introduction
Tibetan Buddhism, practiced by the majority of Tibetans, has for centuries, been a core element
of Tibetan culture and identity. However, since the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1950's, the
Chinese government has consistently instituted repressive policies on the Tibetan Buddhism.
Monasteries, including monks, nuns and religious teachings are integral part of a Tibetan
Buddhism. Sadly, today, monasteries are forbidden to deliver traditional monastic education.
Monks and nuns are barred from access to a religious teaching base on the compassion, and
instead, they are subjected to a regular 'patriotic education' and other political campaigns that are
fundamentally opposed to basic tenets of Tibetan Buddhism, including rhetorical attacks on
Tibetan religious leaders. Furthermore, the monks' populace has been drastically fallen down due
to the restrictions in a construction of new monks' quarters in a monastery1
and monks who are
under 18 are not allow to join the monastic institution.