Tenzin Thupten (born 1970), a nun from Michungri Nunnery in Meldrogungkar County, was arrested at the age of 20 for participating in peaceful political protests against Chinese rule in Tibet. Having grown up in a nomadic family without access to formal education, she joined the nunnery in 1988, where she contributed to its restoration and pursued religious studies.

Following her involvement in demonstrations in 1989 and 1990, including distributing posters condemning Chinese policies in Tibet, she was arrested after a protest during the Shoton Festival in Lhasa. Tenzin was severely beaten during detention and interrogation at Gutsa Detention Centre and later sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on charges of “counter-revolutionary” activities. She was transferred to Drapchi Prison, where she reportedly endured torture, forced labour, and harsh prison conditions.

In 1993, her prison term was extended by an additional nine years due to her alleged involvement in the recording of political songs by Tibetan prisoners, increasing her sentence to a total of 14 years. Reports later indicated that she suffered from serious kidney illness as a result of the harsh treatment in prison.