Brussels, 30 April 2025: The Chair of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights, MEP Mounir Satouri, and the Chair of the Delegation for Relations with the People’s Republic of China, MEP Engin Eroglu, have jointly addressed a letter to the Chinese Ambassador to the European Union concerning the suspicious death of prominent Tibetan Buddhist leader, Tulku Hungkar Dorje. In parallel, the Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights has sent a separate letter to the Vietnamese Ambassador to the EU, reflecting similar concerns.

Both letters express grave concern and alarm over the unexplained circumstances of Tulku Hungkar Dorje’s death and the subsequent cremation of his body in Vietnam without the consent of his family.

The Chairs call on both Chinese and Vietnamese authorities to ensure a transparent, independent, and impartial investigation to determine the circumstances of Tulku Hungkar Dorje’s disappearance and the cause of his passing.

“While extending heartfelt gratitude to the Chairs of the Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Delegation for Relations with the People’s Republic of China for their timely and principled communication on the suspicious death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje in Chinese custody in Vietnam, Representative Rigzin Genkhang also acknowledged sincere and productive discussions held with both Chairs in recent times. Tulku Hungkar Dorje was a respected spiritual leader whose suspicious passing and the unexplained circumstances surrounding his swift cremation in Vietnam has caused profound distress among Tibetans worldwide. In light of this, we continue to urge for a transparent and independent investigation. We deeply value the Chairs’ engagement and encourage sustained international attention to ensure such troubling incidents are neither ignored nor repeated.”

-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Brussels