Commemoration events held on the 30th anniversary of the Panchen Lama’s disappearance

On the 30th anniversary of the enforced disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama by the Chinese authorities—one of the most revered figures in Tibetan Buddhism—commemoration and protest events were held. The Uyghurs also joined in solidarity.

Tibetans in exile and human rights advocates organized demonstrations in various parts of the world over the weekend to mark three decades since Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama, was forcibly disappeared by Chinese authorities.

The Panchen Lama holds a position of great spiritual and cultural significance within Tibetan Buddhism. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was taken in 1995 at the age of six, shortly after being recognized as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama. His disappearance has since remained a symbol of China’s repression in Tibet and a major concern for the international human rights community. The global protests aim to renew calls for transparency about his fate and current condition.

One such demonstration was held on May 18, 2025, in front of the Chinese Embassy in Berlin, Germany, organized by Tibet Initiative Deutschland. The event was supported by Gheyyur Qurban, Director of the Berlin Office of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC), along with his team.

In a public statement, the WUC noted: “Mr. Qurban attended and underscored WUC’s unwavering and long-standing support for the Tibetan cause. We stand in full solidarity with the Tibetan people and their right to practice their religion freely and without fear.”

The statement also strongly condemned the Chinese government’s abduction of the Panchen Lama and its ongoing campaign against Tibet’s religious and cultural identity. It concluded with a call to action: “Religious freedom is a fundamental right. Tibet must not be forgotten.”