Brussels, May 1: The European Parliament has strongly condemned China’s ‘Ethnic Unity Law’, warning that the legislation, set to take effect on July 1, represents a systematic attempt to erase the cultural, religious, and linguistic identity of the Tibetan people. The law emphasizes the imposition of state ideology and prioritizes Mandarin over local languages in public spaces.
A resolution against this law was passed in the European Parliament, with 439 members voting in favor, 52 against, and 71 abstaining.
Members of the European Parliament stated that the selection of the Dalai Lama’s successor is purely a religious matter and should be determined solely according to Tibetan Buddhist traditions, without any government interference.
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has called for the immediate and unconditional release of several prominent political prisoners, including the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, Chötrul Dorje Rinpoche, and Palden Yeshi, all of whom have been subjects of longstanding international concern.
The CTA emphasized that the European Parliament is taking steps to protect Tibetan communities from Chinese influence. Parliamentarians also noted that the impact of this law is not confined to China but could affect Tibetans living in other countries. Consequently, EU member states have been urged to suspend their extradition agreements with China to prevent pressure and repression on Tibetans abroad.
The resolution calls for the European Union to implement the “EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime” against officials guilty of human rights violations. During the debate, the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, expressed concern over the human rights situation in Tibet.
She stated that freedom of religion and belief, the protection of culture and identity, and the right for religious communities to manage their own affairs must be upheld. Government interference in the selection of religious leaders should be avoided, and respect for religious traditions is essential in matters involving the Dalai Lama.
She also noted that the European Union will continue to seek accurate information regarding the 11th Panchen Lama and his status and health. Welcoming the resolution, Rigzin Jenkhang, a representative from the Dalai Lama’s office in Brussels, thanked the European Parliament, emphasizing the importance of sustained international attention to hold China accountable and support efforts to preserve Tibetan culture and religious heritage.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.
