Lhasa, July 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The detention of Chinese activist Zhang Yi during a visit to Tibet has sparked concern among Tibetan rights advocates and international human rights groups, who have questioned the circumstances of his arrest and the lack of official information about his whereabouts.
According to a report by Bitter Winter, Zhang, a Wuhan-based activist, was detained on July 1 after allegedly displaying a photograph of the Dalai Lama on his mobile phone while visiting the Sera Monastery in Lhasa with his younger brother.
The report said both brothers were initially taken into custody by police. While Zhang’s brother was later released after giving a statement, Zhang was placed under 15-day administrative detention. His family was subsequently informed on July 18 that he had been placed under criminal detention on allegations of “incitement.” They have reportedly not received any formal detention notice, and his place of custody remains unknown.
Rights advocates have linked the case to the implementation of China’s National Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law, which came into effect on July 1, alleging that the legislation is being used to tighten controls in Tibet.
According to Bitter Winter, Zhang was a student leader during the 1989 pro-democracy protests in Wuhan and was later imprisoned for two years. The report also states that he has faced repeated detentions and police action over the years for commemorating politically sensitive events and expressing dissenting views.
Earlier this month, Ryan Fioresi, Executive Director of the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), expressed concern over what he described as worsening human rights conditions in Tibet. He alleged that China’s new Ethnic Unity and Progress Law provides legal backing for policies aimed at assimilating Tibetans and weakening their cultural identity, and urged the international community to press Beijing to resume dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives.
Chinese authorities had not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of reporting.
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