Dorjee Tashi, a 51-year-old Tibetan businessman and philanthropist, has endured repeated assaults while serving a life sentence in Lhasa’s Drapchi Prison (Tibet Autonomous Region Prison #1). According to credible reports, Chinese authorities have failed to protect Dorjee from these attacks and have instead used them as pretexts to restrict his access to family and legal counsel. Legal experts have long criticized the trial and sentencing process as fundamentally flawed and politically motivated.
Repeated Assaults in Drapchi Prison
Dorjee Tashi was reportedly attacked twice by fellow inmates under circumstances that suggest negligence—or complicity—on the part of prison authorities:
- April 17, 2021: An assault by eight inmates, severity undisclosed.
- April 15, 2025: An attack by three inmates, leaving visible scars on his forehead.
In both cases, Dorjee was denied proper medical care, and no investigation or disciplinary action against the perpetrators has been reported. The pattern reflects systemic abuse within the Chinese prison system, particularly for Tibetan political prisoners.
Observers note that a state’s custody over an individual carries the fundamental duty to protect a prisoner’s physical integrity and ensure their safety. The failure to prevent or investigate violence against Dorjee constitutes a serious violation of both domestic and international standards, including the Convention Against Torture and the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (“Mandela Rules”).
Denial of Fundamental Rights
Beyond physical assaults, Dorjee Tashi has faced systematic denial of rights essential to fair judicial process:
- Years of obstruction in accessing his lawyer.
- Family visits blocked under pretexts such as alleged “prison rule violations.”
- Legal consultation allowed only once in October 2025, via a single one-hour phone call.
During this call, his lawyer learned for the first time about Dorjee’s injuries from the April 2025 attack. Authorities have used these incidents to isolate Dorjee further, punishing him while shielding those responsible, a tactic widely reported across Chinese prisons.
Politically Motivated Charges
Dorjee Tashi’s imprisonment stems from shifting, politically driven charges:
- 2008: Arrested following the Tibetan Uprising (the “3.14 Incident”) for allegedly “funding activities endangering national security.” Authorities claimed ties to Tibetans in exile.
- Subsequent years: Charges expanded to include “bribery” and “tax evasion” but did not form the basis of conviction.
- 2010: Convicted for “loan fraud” involving 1.44 million yuan and sentenced to life imprisonment, alongside confiscation of all personal property.
Legal experts argue the conviction is disproportionate. A 2025 opinion by a Beijing-based law firm concluded that the case lacked legal foundation, with jurisdictional errors, factual inconsistencies, and misapplication of law. Even Chinese legal scholars in 2018 recommended reducing Dorjee’s life sentence to a fixed term, highlighting discriminatory treatment compared to Chinese businessmen convicted of far larger-scale loan fraud.
Violation of Domestic and International Law
Under Chinese law and binding international conventions, authorities are obligated to:
- Protect prisoners’ physical safety
- Provide timely medical treatment
- Ensure access to legal counsel and family
- Investigate and prevent maltreatment
In Dorjee’s case, these duties have been repeatedly ignored. The assaults, denial of care, and obstruction of legal and family access constitute a clear violation of both domestic legal standards and international human rights obligations.
Advocacy and Calls for Action
Observers and legal experts have urged Chinese authorities to:
- Immediately release Dorjee Tashi and overturn his politically motivated conviction.
- Conduct a transparent investigation into repeated prison assaults.
- Hold responsible parties accountable and ensure urgent medical treatment.
- Restore Dorjee’s rights to family visitation and legal counsel if release is not immediately possible.
The continued detention of Dorjee Tashi highlights the systemic use of the judicial system in Tibet as a tool for political control, rather than an instrument of justice. His case underscores the broader pattern of repression, torture, and denial of due process faced by Tibetan prisoners.
Dorjee Tashi’s imprisonment exemplifies how political objectives override legal principles in Tibet. The repeated assaults, isolation from family and legal counsel, and disproportionate sentencing reveal a judicial system weaponized to suppress dissent and enforce conformity. Advocates continue to call for immediate attention to his case and for accountability to be ensured in accordance with both domestic and international law.
