A Tibetan activist has tragically died after setting himself on fire outside the United Nations in New York.

Lobga Rangzen, 52, broadcasted his self-immolation live on the internet while holding a Tibetan flag and wearing traditional attire. His act was a protest against the worsening human rights situation in Tibet, as reported by the Tibetan Initiative Germany.

The incident occurred shortly after the enactment of a new Chinese law promoting ‘ethnic unity,’ which threatens further repression of minorities. Tenzyn Zöchbauer, director of the Tibetan Initiative Germany, stated that the images from New York reflect the collective pain of Tibetans facing systematic cultural destruction. Vigils were held by Tibetans outside the UN headquarters following the tragic event.