Political prisoner and mother, Norzin Wangmo, released

Norzin Wangmo, a Tibetan political prisoner and mother of three children, has been released. She was released on 2 May, before the completion of her three-year prison sentence and is now with her family.

The torture inflicted on Norzin Wangmo in prison has left her in poor health. While in prison she was beaten with an electric baton, leaving her with bruises all over her body. She is no longer able to stand on her own feet and needs support on both sides to get up and walk.

Tibet Watch has learned that following her release, and despite her poor health, Norzin Wangmo is not allowed to travel to hospital to seek medical treatment. Security personnel are closely monitoring her at her home.

Norzin Wangmo is originally from Chigril Township in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. She was arrested in 2020 and accused of sharing information with Tibetans in exile about the self-immolation of Tenzin Sherab.

Norzin was initially detained and interrogated for 24 hours in police custody. The next day was the only time her family was granted access to meet her. The meeting was brief, and she was in handcuffs, surrounded by police. Even on that day, her family was not allowed to give her food and clothes.

Her trial took place in secret in May 2020 at Chumarleb County People’s Court, where she was found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison.

While serving her sentence in Kyegudo Women’s Prison, Norzin Wangmo was forced to undergo reform through labour. Her family’s multiple requests to see her were rejected and they were also prevented from handing over clothes and food for her.

Both of Norzin and Tenzin’s homeland are in Chumarleb County, in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. The county is also part of Hoh Xil Nature Reserve which was controversially nominated as UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in 2017, despite concerns about the forced resettlement of Tibetan nomads.

Information supplied by Tibet Watch