China Targets 200+ Monks' Homes in Tibet Demolition Drive
Reports emerge of a massive demolition drive targeting monks' homes at Dza Sershul Monastery in Tibet, sparking fears over religious freedom.
In a move that has sparked grave concerns over religious freedom and the erasure of cultural identity, Chinese authorities have reportedly launched a massive demolition campaign in eastern Tibet. The operation has targeted more than 200 residential homes belonging to monks at the historic Dza Sershul Monastery.
Crackdown at Dza Sershul Monastery
According to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), citing reports from Radio Free Asia (RFA), the demolition drive in Sershul County, located in the Karze region, is believed to have commenced around October 25 or 26, 2026. While the exact timeline and the full scale of the destruction remain difficult to verify, the reports paint a picture of a systematic crackdown.
Adding to the opacity of the situation, authorities have allegedly restricted internet access and blocked the flow of information from the region. While public meetings have been convened in the area, the communication blackout has made independent verification of the events nearly impossible.
A Pattern of Destruction
This is not an isolated incident. The CTA points out that this drive follows a history of large-scale demolitions at other prominent Tibetan Buddhist institutions. Notable examples include:
- Larung Gar: Where extensive demolitions began in July 2016.
- Yachen Gar: Which suffered demolition campaigns in August 2017 and again in July 2019.
Targeting Education and Youth
Beyond the physical destruction of homes, there is a reported effort to dismantle Tibetan educational infrastructure. The CTA has highlighted the closure of several key institutions that provided vocational training, traditional cultural instruction, and Tibetan-language education, especially for children from nomadic backgrounds. These include:
- Ragya Gangjong Sherig Norbu Lobling School (closed July 2024)
- Ragya Jigme Gyaltsen Grassland Girls’ School (closed August 2026)
- Golog Tadrak Orphan School (closed September 2026)
The pressure on the youth began years ago. In 2018, more than 200 underage novice monks were reportedly expelled from the Dza Sershul Monastery and forced to enroll in government-run schools.
Political Pressure and Detentions
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy has noted that monasteries are under immense pressure to comply with state mandates. Failure to do so could lead to the closure of the institution or the detention of religious leaders.
The CTA further alleges that Tibetan communities are facing intense political pressure. This includes demands to remove images of the Dalai Lama and mandates to publicly demonstrate loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party. The consequences of resistance have been severe; for instance, in November 2019, four monks from the Dza Wonpo Ganden Shedup Monastery were reportedly detained for distributing leaflets that opposed party propaganda.