In the past week, a viral video of the Dalai Lama has been widely reported on by international media. The video shows the Dalai Lama at a public event in India, kissing a clearly uncomfortable small boy on the lips, followed by the Dalai Lama sticking out his tongue and demanding that the child “suck my tongue”. Such a brazen act of child sexual abuse was done at a public event, in full view of crowds and cameras. This brings into question what might be happening in private, away from the cameras and public attention. In the video, the boy in question showed extreme discomfort and tried to recoil away from the Dalai Lama. Such a disgusting act of child abuse will no doubt have a long-lasting impact on the child’s mental and physical health.

What is more disturbing, is that some people and personalities on social media have publicly tried to justify the Dalai Lama’s actions, as well as holding protests in support of him. They claim that the Dalai Lama’s actions were cultural. However, we know that making a child suck your tongue is not acceptable behaviour in any culture. These attempts to justify, and even glorify child sexual abuse are deeply disturbing, and must be condemned. 

The Dalai Lama is a religious leader in a position of immense power. His inappropriate behaviour may be taken by others as permission to engage in such acts themselves. Child sexual abuse must never be normalised, much less justified or glorified. Every child should have the right to grow up without fear of being abused or molested. 

We call on all politicians and public figures to publicly condemn the Dalai Lama’s paedophilic act. Every country in the world has laws against child sexual abuse. We call on the Indian government and any other relevant governments to investigate the case and prosecute the Dalai Lama for his crimes. 

Please sign this petition and protect children from abuse.

Please contact the government of India to urge them to open an investigation into and condemn the actions of the Dalai Lama: https://www.india.gov.in/contact-us

Please contact the White House to urge them to open an investigation into and condemn the actions of the Dalai Lama: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

Please contact the National Crime Bureau of India to lodge a formal complaint: 

National Highway - 8, Mahipalpur New Delhi - 110037.

Telephone: (011) 26735450

Fax: (011) 26782257

Email: dct@ncrb.gov.in