Free China

News summary — August 31, 2026

Amnesty International reported on August 28 that Chinese activist Zhang Yi was detained in Lhasa on July 1 after showing a photograph of the Dalai Lama on his mobile phone while visiting Sera Monastery. Amnesty says he was formally arrested on July 28 on suspicion of “inciting separatism.”

According to Amnesty, the detention appears to stem solely from Zhang Yi’s peaceful exercise of human rights. The organization also raised concern about his wellbeing in detention and called for his immediate release.

Why it matters: The case raises renewed concerns about freedom of expression, religious and cultural rights, and the criminalization of peaceful conduct in Tibet.

Source: Amnesty International, August 28, 2026.

Editorial note: This is a sourced news summary. Allegations and conclusions are attributed to the reporting organization.