Denied Justice: Tibet's Activists Face Uphill Battle

Chinese authorities deny a retrial for Anya Sengdra, an environmental activist serving a seven-year prison sentence for disrupting social order. Sengdra, known for opposing corruption and illegal activities, has faced rejected appeals and alleged human rights violations, spotlighting China's tight control over Tibetan activists.

Chinese authorities have again denied a retrial for Anya Sengdra, a prominent environmental activist and anti-corruption advocate in Tibet, further entrenching his seven-year sentence for "disturbing social order." This marks the third unsuccessful appeal by Sengdra's legal team, as revealed by his lawyer Lin Qilei through a social media announcement, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA).

Anya Sengdra, 53, hails from Kyangchu Township in Gade County of the Golog (Guoluo) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and has spent six years behind bars following his arrest in 2018 in Qinghai Province. Sengdra's detention arose from his vocal opposition to local corruption, illegal mining practices, and wildlife poaching. He was reportedly subjected to beatings during his detention, and authorities used his online advocacy as evidence against him, convicting him of disrupting social order in 2019.

Lawyer Lin Qilei expressed deep frustration over the rejection of the appeal, stating on X (formerly Twitter), "This is our third attempt at seeking a retrial submitted to the Sixth Circuit Court of the Supreme People's Court in Xi'an." He described the court proceedings, explaining how he filled out the necessary documents and queued only to be told by a judge that they would not reconsider Sengdra's case. The judge advised him against future attempts to bring the case back. International pressure over Sengdra's conviction has grown, with UN human rights experts calling for charges to be dropped amid potential human rights violations, as reported by RFA.

(With inputs from agencies.)