By Uyghur Times Staff
Saturday, May 18, 2025 | Berlin, Germany
Dozens of activists and community leaders gathered in front of the Chinese Embassy in Berlin last Saturday to mark the 30th anniversary of the enforced disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama, one of Tibetan Buddhism’s most revered figures. The protest, organized by the Tibet Initiative Deutschland, brought together Tibetans, Uyghurs, and human rights advocates in a unified call for religious freedom and justice.
Gheyyur Qurban, Director of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) Berlin Office, participated in the demonstration, expressing solidarity with the Tibetan people. “We stand in full solidarity with the Tibetan people and their right to practice their religion freely and without fear. We strongly condemn the Chinese government for abducting the Panchen Lama and for its ongoing campaign of repression against Tibetan religious and cultural identity.”
The Chinese government has been widely criticized for its systematic efforts to suppress religious and cultural expression across various regions, including Tibet and the Uyghur homeland. The Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, was abducted by Chinese authorities in 1995 at the age of six, shortly after being recognized by the Dalai Lama. His whereabouts remain unknown.
Protesters called on the international community to hold the Chinese government accountable for its human rights violations and to push for transparency regarding the fate of the Panchen Lama and other disappeared religious figures.
“We stand not just for Tibet, but for all communities suffering under China’s repression,” said one protester. “Tibet must not be forgotten.”
The demonstration served as a reminder of the shared struggles faced by those resisting authoritarian control and fighting for basic freedoms.
