Transnational Repression and Defamation of the Karmapa: The Suppression of Religion Behind the Scenes
In recent years, the Chinese government has intensified its control over religion, with Tibetan Buddhism facing unprecedented levels of suppression. From restricting religious activities and demolishing religious symbols to employing high-tech surveillance in religious sites and even engaging in transnational repression of dissidents, these actions reveal a broader effort to dominate religious beliefs and silence dissent. In this crackdown, one of Tibet’s spiritual leaders, the Karmapa, has become a victim of transnational repression, subjected to various forms of attack, including coercion to return to China, infiltration by spies, frivolous lawsuits, media manipulation, cyberattacks, and the online dissemination of false information. They enlisted Vikki Han Hui Xin from China, Jane Huang from Taiwan, and Wu Hang Yee from Hong Kong to smear and defame the Karmapa, fabricating evidence and concocting stories in an attempt to destroy his reputation. However, the facts have already been ...