China Must Probe Mistreatment of Imprisoned Tibetan Entrepreneur Dorje Tashi

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) is gravely concerned for imprisoned Tibetan entrepreneur Dorje Tashi, who is serving a life sentence at Drapchi Prison in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), near Lhasa city in the Tibetan province of Utsang. He has reportedly been subjected to repeated beatings and ongoing restrictions on family visits. 

During a 29 October 2025 non-contact visitation meeting held under strict surveillance behind a “prison mirror” and via monitored telephone, Dorje Tashi’s lawyer, Wang Fei, learned that Dorje Tashi suffered a brutal beating by three inmates in early April 2025, leaving him with serious forehead injuries.

This was not an isolated incident. On 17 April 2021, eight inmates allegedly attacked Dorje Tashi for unexplained reasons. Lawyer Wang Fei last met Dorje Tashi in 2020, after which access was repeatedly denied. These repeated assaults point to a serious failure by prison authorities to protect Dorje Tashi’s safety.

Under the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Mandela Rules), Rule 1 requires that all prisoners be treated with respect for their inherent dignity, and Rule 43(1) strictly prohibits any form of torture, violence, or intimidation whether inflicted by prison staff or other prisoners.

On 29 April 2025, Dorje Tashi’s brother, Dorje Tseten, issued a statement describing repeated obstacles and intimidation during his attempts to secure a family visit. Prison officials allegedly postponed visits on arbitrary and unfounded grounds, despite earlier assurances.

“I have been making efforts for a month, but they keep delaying and wasting time, rescheduling the visit for another four months,” Dorje Tseten said. Officials told him that Dorje Tashi was under “disciplinary punishment.” He added, “I stayed for four days solely for a visit,” calling on the TAR and Lhasa Municipal People’s Procuratorates, as well as other relevant judicial authorities, to intervene and protect his brother’s rights.

Dorje Tashi’s sister, Gonpo Kyi, has been repeatedly harassed, intimidated, arbitrarily detained, and subjected to severe psychological and physical stress for her peaceful advocacy. On 18 August 2025, as she attempted to leave the Yak Hotel to request permission to visit her brother, security officers forcibly detained her and confined her, restricting her freedom of movement and access to her family. Two days later, amid escalating pressure, she attempted to commit suicide by jumping from the second floor of the family’s Yak Hotel in Lhasa, sustaining serious injuries to her leg and back.

She has engaged in multiple peaceful protests, including a sit-in outside the Tibet Autonomous Region Higher People’s Court on 20 February 2024, during which she held a portrait of President Xi Jinping. 

Dorje Tashi, one of most successful Tibetan entrepreneurs and known for his extensive charitable work, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2010 on alleged “loan fraud” charges widely regarded as fabricated and politically motivated. His conviction followed his refusal to comply with corrupt local officials’ demands for luxury favors.

In a demonstration of protest against his wrongful imprisonment, Dorje Tashi staged a 15-day hunger strike beginning on 16 August 2021, during which prison authorities reportedly forced him to receive an IV drip. 

China’s Prison Law requires prison authorities to protect prisoners’ physical safety, provide medical care, ensure lawful visitation, and prevent maltreatment. However, the repeated assaults, denied access to legal counsel, and retaliation against family members indicate a systematic failure to enforce these obligations.

Under Article 14 of the Prison Law, prisons are legally required to be supervised by People’s Procuratorates, which are charged with preventing abuse and safeguarding the rights of detainees. The persistent denial of access to Dorje Tashi by his family and legal counsel not only undermines these domestic oversight mechanisms but also constitutes a serious violation of his fundamental rights under international human rights law, including the rights to legal representation, family contact, and protection from arbitrary detention.