Calls for release of Chinese activist arrested over Dalai Lama photograph

Zhang Yi, a human rights activist from Wuhan, Hubei province, was detained by police in Lhasa on July 1 while visiting Sera Monastery with his younger brother.

According to Amnesty International, Mr Yi showed a photograph of the Dalai Lama on his mobile phone after being unable to communicate verbally with a Tibetan worshipper from whom he wanted to borrow a prayer mat. Two plainclothes officers allegedly observed the interaction and appeared to record Mr Yi and his brother as they left the prayer area.

He was detained before leaving the monastery and was formally arrested on July 28 on suspicion of “inciting separatism”, according to an arrest notice received by his family and seen by Amnesty. His family was informed of the arrest by telephone on July 30.

Amnesty International’s deputy regional director Sarah Brooks said: “The arrest of Zhang Yi after he showed a photograph of the Dalai Lama while visiting a monastery is a chilling reminder of how far the Chinese authorities will go to police the peaceful exercise of human rights.

“This case bears all the hallmarks of the Chinese authorities’ long-standing misuse of the offence of “inciting separatism” to criminalize peaceful expression in Tibetan areas and in relation to Tibetan history, culture and religious belief.

“Displaying a photograph of a religious leader should never be treated as a threat to national security. The Chinese authorities must immediately release Zhang Yi as he has been detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights.

“Pending his release, they must ensure that he has prompt access to his family and a lawyer of his own choosing. Authorities must protect him from torture and other ill-treatment while in detention.”

Mr Yi’s family received a criminal detention notice issued by the Lhasa Public Security Bureau on July 18 stating that he had been placed under criminal detention on suspicion of “inciting separatism” and was being held at Lhasa Detention Center. Authorities have not publicly disclosed the basis for the accusation.

Amnesty said Zhang’s detention took place on the same day China’s Ethnic Unity Law entered into force. The organisation said the legislation contained broad provisions requiring the promotion of “ethnic unity” and a shared national identity, creating further grounds for restricting rights including freedom of expression, religion or belief, and cultural rights.

Mr Yi became politically active during the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy movement and is described by Amnesty as a prominent pro-democracy activist and human rights defender.