NEW DELHI, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Exiled Tibetans gathered in the Indian capital Wednesday to protest what they say is a move by China to unilaterally appoint Tibetan Buddhism's second highest religious leader.

Earlier this year, the Dalai Lama -- Tibet's exiled spiritual leader -- appointed the religion's next highest leader, the Panchen Lama. Beijing, however, also appointed its own Panchen Lama in a move many Tibetans saw as a an attempt to maintain control over Tibet, which China invaded and occupied in 1950.

A spokesman for the Tibet Freedom Movement said China had issued a "forced invitation" to 75 Buddhist leaders living in Tibet to meet in Beijing and validate the Chinese government's choice for Panchen Lama.

"China has no right to interfere with our religion," spokesman Sonam Choephel said. "Historically and traditionally only the Dalai Lama has the right to choose the Panchen Lama."

"This is a power grab, an attempt by China to legitimize its illegal occupation of Tibet," one protester said. "It will not work; no one will believe China's Panchen Lama."

According to Tibetan Buddhist custom, the soul of a dead religious leader is reincarnated in the body of a young boy.

Choephel said the Dalai Lama's choice for Panchen Lama -- 6-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima -- was recently arrested in Tibet and taken to Beijing.

Chinese Embassy officials in New Delhi were unavailable for comment. The struggle over the successor to the Panchen Lama could have long term consequences for Tibet's ongoing independence movement, as the spiritual leader is charged with finding the next Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama and more than 100,000 of his followers were forced to flee Tibet to India when in 1959 China cracked down on a Tibetan separatist uprising.