Sonam Gyatso
Additional Name(s): བསོད་ནམས་རྒྱ་མཚོ་, 索南嘉措
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: China
Ethnic Group: Tibetan
Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Tibetan
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 2 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: April/3/2021
Date of Sentencing: July//2022
Date of Release: May/23/2023
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Adherence to a Religious Figure
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Sonam Gyatso
Extra Bio Info:
Sonam Gyatso was imprisoned for his adherence to a religious figure.
On April 3, 2021, authorities in Aba (Ngaba) county, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture (T&QAP), Sichuan, detained Gyatso, a monk from Kirti Monastery, at the monastery.
In July 2022, a court reportedly sentenced Gyatso to two years in prison for sending donations abroad to the Dalai Lama and Kirti Rinpoche, the leader of Kirti Monastery.
On May 23, 2023, Gyatso was released from Menyang prison after completing his sentence.
While in prison, Gyatso was reportedly tortured.
Related Cases: Rachung Gedun
Sources:
- "Tibetan monk released from prison in poor health after serving two-year sentence" Radio Free Asia
- "Sonam Gyatso" Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)