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Exiled Tibetans Condemn Alleged Epstein-Dalai Lama Connection as Chinese Propaganda
The Tibetan exile community in Dharamsala, India has strongly rejected claims attempting to link the Dalai Lama to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, calling the allegations baseless and politically motivated. The Office of the Dalai Lama issued an unequivocal denial, confirming that the spiritual leader has never met Epstein nor authorized any meetings on his behalf.
“We can unequivocally confirm that His Holiness has never met Jeffrey Epstein or authorized any meeting or interaction with him by anyone on His Holiness’s behalf,” read an official statement from the Dalai Lama’s office in Dharamsala.
Members of the Tibetan exile community view the timing of these allegations with suspicion, noting they surfaced shortly after the Dalai Lama received a Grammy award. They believe this represents a coordinated disinformation campaign orchestrated by Chinese authorities to discredit the 88-year-old spiritual leader who has been living in exile since 1959.
Youdon Aukatsang, a member of the Tibetan parliament in exile, expressed dismay over the allegations in an interview with ANI. “I am really disheartened and sad and very unsettled to see people making this false allegation against His Holiness. There is nothing that links him with Jeffrey Epstein at all,” she said.
Aukatsang pointed to what she believes is the political motivation behind the claims. “I think it’s really a handiwork of pro-Chinese propaganda, whether they are Russians or Chinese or whoever is working in collusion with China to defame His Holiness. This is their agenda.”
The controversy appears to stem from recently circulated “Epstein files” that allegedly mention the Dalai Lama multiple times. However, Tenzin Lobsang, general secretary of the Tibetan Youth Congress, clarified that while the documents mention the Dalai Lama’s name 169 times, there is no actual evidence of any connection between the spiritual leader and Epstein.
“It’s quite visible that this information campaign is from the Chinese side,” Lobsang told ANI. “The moment the Dalai Lama receives the Grammy award, the first information spreads from the Russian state agency, mentioning the name of the Dalai Lama 169 times and trying to establish a link with Jeffrey Epstein.”
According to Lobsang, some individuals may have inappropriately used the Dalai Lama’s name in their communications with Epstein to enhance their own credibility or to seek financial support. “Some individuals have used the name of the Dalai Lama but there is no evidence and no link. They used His Holiness’ name in their resume to reach out to Jeffrey Epstein for some sort of financial aid,” he explained.
The allegations come amid ongoing tensions between China and the Tibetan government-in-exile. China has long viewed the Dalai Lama as a separatist seeking to split Tibet from Chinese control, while the Dalai Lama maintains he only seeks meaningful autonomy for the region within China.
This is not the first time the Chinese government has been accused of spreading disinformation about the Dalai Lama. Beijing routinely portrays the Nobel Peace Prize laureate in negative terms in state media and discourages foreign leaders from meeting with him.
The Tibetan exile community, which numbers approximately 150,000 worldwide with a significant population in northern India, continues to advocate for cultural preservation and human rights in Tibet while supporting the Dalai Lama’s diplomatic efforts on the international stage.
As these allegations circulate on social media platforms, the Dalai Lama’s office has maintained its position that any claimed connection to Epstein is fabricated and politically motivated.
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10 Comments
It’s disappointing to see these unsubstantiated allegations against the Dalai Lama. The Tibetan exile community’s perspective that this is a coordinated disinformation campaign is quite troubling. I agree we should be very cautious about spreading such claims, especially given the Dalai Lama’s long record of peaceful leadership.
I’m troubled to see these allegations against the Dalai Lama, given his decades of peaceful advocacy for the Tibetan people. The Tibetan exile community’s rejection of the claims and view of them as politically motivated propaganda is quite concerning. We should be very wary of spreading unsubstantiated accusations, especially against such a prominent and respected figure.
The Dalai Lama’s office has firmly denied any connection to Epstein, and the Tibetan exile community’s view of this as Chinese propaganda is concerning. While serious allegations deserve scrutiny, the timing and the Dalai Lama’s long history of humanitarian work make me skeptical of these claims. We should be cautious about amplifying unverified information.
The Dalai Lama’s lifelong advocacy for peace and human rights makes me doubtful of these Epstein allegations. The Tibetan exile community’s rejection of the claims and view of them as Chinese propaganda is concerning. We should be wary of amplifying dubious accusations, especially against such a prominent and respected figure.
The Tibetan exile community raises valid points about the suspicious timing and potential political motivations behind these allegations. While serious claims deserve scrutiny, the Dalai Lama’s long history of peaceful leadership and humanitarian work makes me skeptical of these Epstein links.
I share your skepticism. The Dalai Lama’s office has provided a clear denial, and the Tibetan community’s perspective on this seeming like a coordinated disinformation campaign is concerning. We should be wary of amplifying unsubstantiated claims, especially against high-profile figures.
I’m skeptical of these claims linking the Dalai Lama to Epstein. The Tibetan exile community’s rejection of the allegations seems credible, and it’s concerning to see potential political motives behind this. We should be cautious about unsubstantiated accusations, especially against such a prominent and respected figure.
Agreed. It’s important to rely on authoritative sources and resist the spread of unverified claims, even when they seem sensational. The Dalai Lama’s office has firmly denied any connection, which should carry significant weight.
These allegations against the Dalai Lama seem politically motivated and not well-substantiated. The Tibetan exile community’s response, including the Dalai Lama’s office categorically denying any connection to Epstein, is a credible rebuttal. We should be cautious about spreading unverified claims, even if they are sensational.
It’s disappointing to see these allegations against the Dalai Lama, especially given his decades of peaceful advocacy for the Tibetan people. The timing does seem suspicious, and I agree it could be part of a disinformation campaign by the Chinese authorities. Hopefully the truth will come out.