NEWSLETTERS
Tibet Update – January 2026
INSIDE:
Updates from ICT’s Executive Director
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Get the latest news and updates directly from ICT Executive Director Ryan Fioresi.
Tibetan singer A-Sang released after detention for commemorating Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday
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The Tibetan singer, A-Sang, who was detained in August for his performance and broadcast of a song commemorating His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, was released from detention on January 25, 2026.
Tibetan Buddhist leader detained as China shutters yet another Tibetan language school
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Choktrul Dorje Ten Rinpoche, a prominent Tibetan Buddhist leader, was detained by Chinese authorities in December 2025, according to sources close to him. Choktrul Dorje Ten is the founder of the Dorje Ten Ethnic Vocational and Technical High School, a Tibetan-medium instruction school which has now been forcibly closed.
Human Rights Day resounds with statements supporting Tibet
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The latest International Human Rights Day was marked by comments in support of Tibet by delegates from six countries and a statement from the European Union. The Central Tibetan Administration published a statement, and speakers in the United Kingdom’s House of Commons raised the Tibet issue as well.
Prayers for the Long Life of the Dalai Lama during south India visit
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Last week the Dalai Lama consecrated a new classroom at Ganden Monastery’s exile branch in southern India and met with the Chief Monk of Sri Lanka. Amid prayers for his long life, celebrations for the occasion included traditional Tibetan snow lion dances.
US congressional report confirms serious rights abuses in Tibet under CCP rule
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The Congressional-Executive Commission on China’s 2025 report documents egregious human rights violations perpetrated by the Chinese state in Tibet, including the mass expulsion of monks from Larung Gar, the closure of Tibetan schools, and the arrest of rights advocates – including the death of Gonpo Namgyal, a language rights advocate who died from torture while in custody.
Schrucker Fellowship and Rowell Fund announce 2026 grants
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The Schrucker Fellowship has selected seven awardees from a highly competitive pool, with projects spanning a wide range of mediums, ranging from screenplay writing, theatre, filmmaking, post-production, visual arts and mixed media. Meanwhile, the Rowell Fund for Tibet’s Advisory Board awarded $36,000 in grants for 2026, selecting ten projects that aim to empower Tibetans and enable the preservation of Tibetan culture, strengthen community resilience, and safeguard Tibetan identity in the face of growing contemporary challenges.
Read more online (Schrucker)
Read more online (Rowell)
ICT releases “Beyond Neither Goat nor Sheep” language report
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To shine a light on Beijing’s continued repression in Tibet, ICT released the report “Beyond Neither Goat nor Sheep,” which details the Chinese government’s systematic policies to erase the use of the Tibetan language and separate Tibetans from their linguistic heritage. The report focuses on Chinese authorities’ attempts to undermine the use of the Tibetan language in an effort to advance Beijing’s goal of forcibly assimilating Tibetans into the Chinese state and depriving them of a fundamental connection to their identity.
ICT welcomes the recent statement by independent UN experts expressing their deep concern about ongoing allegations of state-organized forced labor in China. In addition to Uyghur, Kazakh, and Kyrgyz communities, the experts explicitly mention Tibetans as being affected by systematic forced labor and resettlement programs.
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- Updates from ICT’s Executive Director
- Tibetan singer A-Sang released after detention for commemorating Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday
- Tibetan Buddhist leader detained as China shutters yet another Tibetan language school
- Human Rights Day resounds with statements supporting Tibet
- Prayers for the Long Life of the Dalai Lama during south India visit
- US congressional report confirms serious rights abuses in Tibet under CCP rule
- Schrucker Fellowship and Rowell Fund announce 2026 grants
- ICT releases “Beyond Neither Goat nor Sheep” language report
- UN experts sound the alarm: Forced labor and resettlement in Tibet must have international consequences
- Sign up to get texts from ICT!
- Blog: Revitalization of Tibet on US College Campuses: JFK Jr. Forum at Harvard
- Blog: Zhang Yadi: The 22-year-old student Beijing fears
- Blog: My experience in TYLP and as a Lodi Gyari Fellow on Capitol Hill
- Going fast: exclusive new items in ICT’s online store…
- Smart Giving: A savvy choice to make a big impact during periods of financial unpredictability
BLOG
Revitalization of Tibet on US College Campuses: JFK Jr. Forum at Harvard
By: Tenzin Yiga
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Standing on the stage of the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at Harvard’s Institute of Politics, I could feel the weight of nearly 30 years of silence in the room. It was November 28, 2025 and for the first time since His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama spoke at the Kennedy School of Government in 1995, a Tibetan leader was returning to that stage to continue an unfinished conversation. I was one of the only Tibetan students at Harvard, and introducing Sikyong Penpa Tsering—the democratically elected President of the Central Tibetan Administration—was more than a personal honor.
Zhang Yadi: The 22-year-old student Beijing fears
By: Vincent Metten
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Zhang Yadi is 22 years old. Friends describe her as bright, curious, and determined to understand the world beyond the censorship and information controls imposed by the Chinese authorities on its citizens. During her studies in Paris, she developed a strong interest in questions of freedom of expression, equality between peoples, and human rights, especially concerning Tibet. Nothing about her profile resembles that of a political agitator. She was, above all, someone who listened, learned, and cared. It is precisely this openness–this willingness to think freely and empathize with those silenced at home–that made her, in the eyes of Beijing, someone to fear.
My experience in TYLP and as a Lodi Gyari Fellow on Capitol Hill
By: Kunga Wilson
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Two years ago, during an impactful summer in Washington, DC, I participated in the Tibetan Youth Leadership Program. Here, my cultural identity, passion for providing aid, prior work experiences, and academic interests converged as a unified pathway toward meaningful impact. That summer, I was made aware of ICT’s Washington Internship Program for Tibetan-Americans and was encouraged to apply. After such a formative experience, I realized that my passion for supporting diaspora communities could be built on by such an opportunity. As a result, I set my sights on this internship as a chance to refine my understanding of governance through firsthand accounts of representative government, international relations, and development.
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Going fast: exclusive new items in ICT's online store…
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Exciting news! We've added new items to our online store! Illustrated notepads, t-shirts, mugs, note cards, new tote bags, and more…
Also, we have just 60 copies of ICT's 2026 calendar remaining! Great Compassion is a celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday and the power of compassion—the quiet strength and the power it holds to heal and transform. We are deeply honored to collaborate with our friends at Mutts Comics to share some of our favorite illustrations and quotes from Heart to Heart, a remarkable collaboration between His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and renowned illustrator Patrick McDonnell. With gentle wisdom and moving simplicity, this book invites us to reflect on our connection to one another and to this Earth we all live on. It is a call for a Compassionate Revolution—a reminder, as His Holiness writes, that "we are indeed all members of a single family, sharing one little house."
Smart Giving: A savvy choice to make a big impact during periods of financial unpredictability
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From climate change to the survival of democracy, Tibet is at the heart of the biggest challenges facing our world. That's why we're thrilled to share financially smart ways to give that will promote human rights and democratic freedoms for the people of Tibet:
- Stock: When you donate appreciated stock, you can save on two types of taxes by avoiding capital gains tax and often getting a full deduction for the value of your gift.
- IRA gifts: If you're 70.5 or older, donations from your IRA reduce your taxable income and can help meet a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) if you must take one.
- Donor-Advised Funds: With a grant recommendation from your Donor-Advised Fund, you can give from the money you've already set aside without spending an additional cent!
- Crypto: A donation of appreciated cryptocurrency can help you avoid capital gains taxes and get a big tax deduction.
We hope you consider the donation option(s) best for you, and together, we can shift the balance toward compassion and kindness.
When you give these types of gifts, please use the tools linked above so we can track your gift, send you the right receipt and ensure you get the tax savings you deserve.