Tibet Watch has learned that a former Tibetan political prisoner has died from injuries sustained in prison.

Gendun Sherab died on 18 April 2020 in his native Sog County in central Tibet.

Sog County

Prior to his arrest, Gendun Sherab was a  monk at the Rongpo Rabten Monastery in Sog County.

He was arrested by Chinese authorities in Lhasa in 2017 after sharing a message from the Dalai Lama on his WeChat. Specifically, his arrest was linked to the sharing of a document with “a recognition letter from His Holiness the Dalai Lama regarding the reincarnation of Choegon Rinpoche from Sera Je Lhopa Khantsen,” according to sources. The Chinese Communist Party places heavy restrictions on religious activity for Tibetans, in particular on anything that displays continuing loyalty to the Dalai Lama.

During his time in prison, Gendun was reportedly brutally beaten which led to a severe and life-threatening injury.

Gendun was released from prison after three months, but continued to struggle with his injuries. He struggled to recover especially because he was blacklisted from accessing various health facilities in Lhasa, preventing him from receiving medication. This reportedly prompted him to return to his home in Sog County where he sought traditional Tibetan medicine,which did not help alleviate his pain.

Gendun was one of many Tibetans to have been arrested without having committed a recognisable crime.Tibetans are under constant surveillance by the CCP and have restrictions on their communications. His treatment in prison also mirrors that of numerous other Tibetans who have been violently threatened, beaten or tortured whilst in prison.