"Tibetan[s] are denied fundamental rights, but the authorities are especially rigorous in suppressing any signs of dissent among Tibetans, including manifestations of Tibetan religious beliefs and cultural identity."
- From Freedom in the World Report by Freedom House, 2021
China invaded Tibet in 1950. Inside its borders and across the world, Tibetans have never stopped believing Tibet is a nation.
After more than 70 years of occupation, Tibetans still resist China's rule and defy its oppression.
The facts about Tibet:
1. Tibet is a country in the Himalayan mountains. By land-mass, it should be the world’s 10th largest nation.
2. In 1950, China invaded its neighbour and seized control by force. Tibetans have lived under China’s military rule ever since.
3. Tibetans attempted to take back their country in an enormous uprising in March of 1959. The protests were crushed with brutal force.
4. Fearing for his safety, the Tibetan’s young leader, the Dalai Lama, was forced to flee across the mountains to India, where he still lives today.
5. Tibet was divided up and incorporated into Chinese provinces. The largest of these is the so-called “Tibet Autonomous Region” or TAR.
6. Despite its name, the TAR is anything but autonomous. China rules with an iron fist, and Tibet is ranked amongst the “worst of the worst” for human rights violations.
7. China continues to insist that Tibetans are happy and prosperous, but won’t allow journalists, tourists or diplomats to see for themselves.
8. More than 100 countries have achieved independence in the time that Tibet has been occupied.
9. Tibetans have never stopped resisting the destruction of their culture and way of life. Their protests continue to be guided by their Buddhist faith and its non-violent principles.
Read more about:
How Tibetans are protesting
Human rights issues in Tibet
Tibet’s history, religion and culture
