Chinese Authorities Seize Tibetan Monks' Phones Amid School Closures

Chinese authorities in Sichuan province are confiscating Tibetan monks' phones, accusing them of sharing information about recent school closures at monasteries, according to sources cited by RFA. The Lhamo Kirti and Kirti Monastery schools, traditionally educating Tibetan youth in Buddhist studies and the Tibetan language, were shut down, impacting around 600 students. Authorities cited regulations requiring monastic students to be at least 18 and attend state-administered schools instead. Parents are now compelled to enroll children in Mandarin-only, state-run institutions focused on "patriotic education." Monks are being monitored for communication with outsiders and warned against "separatist activities."