Additional Name(s): དབང་ཆེན་, 旺钦

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: China

Ethnic Group: Tibetan

Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Tibetan

Reports of Torture: Yes

Date of Detainment: July//2023

Current Status: Not Released

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Adherence to a Religious Figure Pilgrimage Praying Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Activity

Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly

Wangchen

Extra Bio Info:

Wangchen is detained for his religious activity.

In June 2023, police in Lhasa municipality, Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), detained Wangchen while he was on pilgrimage with his family. Police allegedly beat him during interrogation, resulting in his hospitalization.

Wangchen was imprisoned for his religious activity and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

On April 29, 2019, authorities in Sershul (Shiqu) county, Kardze (Ganzi) TAP, Sichuan province, detained Wangchen for reportedly praying for the release of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama. Wangchen reportedly burnt incense and raised prayer flags behind the Sershul monastery.

On May 8, 2019, the Sershul County People's Court sentenced Wangchen to four years in prison for leading an illegal public protest. Previous reports said he had been sentenced to four years and six months in prison.

In April 2023, Wangchen was released after completing his sentence.

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