+34UN Human Rights Council hears concerns over the pretrial detention of 95-year-old Shincheonji Church founder Lee Man-hee in South Korea, raised by CAP Freedom of Conscience.
The United Nations Human Rights Council has heard concerns raised by Paris-based CAP Freedom of Conscience regarding the pretrial detention of 95-year-old Lee Man-hee, founder and chairman of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, in South Korea. The oral statement was delivered during the General Debate under Item 3 of the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, focusing on the promotion and protection of all human rights. Lee, a veteran of the Korean War, is currently held at the Seoul Detention Center on non-violent charges.
UN Human Rights Council hears detention concerns
CAP Freedom of Conscience, an international organization advocating for religious freedom, expressed serious concern over what it describes as a politically driven and discriminatory investigation targeting a religious minority. The organization also raised alarms about the conditions of Lee's detention. Despite having a fixed residence and posing no flight risk, Lee was held in cells without air conditioning during Seoul's most severe heatwave, raising grave concerns for the health of a 95-year-old detainee.
The statement recalled that such treatment runs counter to the Republic of Korea's international obligations. Among the cited instruments are Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which requires detention to be necessary and proportionate; Article 10, which guarantees humane treatment; the Nelson Mandela Rules, which entitle detainees to healthcare equivalent to that available in the community; the Tokyo Rules, which make pretrial detention a measure of last resort; and Article 18, which protects freedom of religion or belief. CAP Freedom of Conscience considers this right disregarded in Lee's case.
Shincheonji Church global presence and background
Shincheonji Church of Jesus has communities and Bible education centers in countries around the world, including the Philippines, where it has maintained a presence since 2013. The church's global footprint underscores the international interest in the case. Lee Man-hee, as founder and chairman, has led the organization for decades. His detention has drawn attention from religious freedom advocates who see it as part of a broader pattern of discrimination against minority faiths.
CAP Freedom of Conscience is a member of the European Federation for Freedom of Belief and the European Network of Religion and Belief. The organization participates in interfaith and human rights dialogues, and its involvement in this case highlights the intersection of religious freedom and human rights at the international level. The oral statement at the UN Human Rights Council is part of its ongoing efforts to advocate for the rights of religious minorities.
International obligations and calls for action
CAP Freedom of Conscience urges the UN Council to call on the Republic of Korea to honor its treaty obligations by offering alternatives to detention, allowing an independent medical assessment, and ensuring a fair and impartial trial. The organization argues that pretrial detention should be a measure of last resort, especially for an elderly individual with no flight risk. The case has raised questions about the treatment of elderly detainees and the use of pretrial detention in non-violent cases.
The UN Human Rights Council's 63rd session provides a platform for member states and civil society to address human rights concerns worldwide. The promotion and protection of all human rights, including freedom of religion or belief, is a key agenda item. The case of Lee Man-hee serves as a test of South Korea's commitment to its international human rights obligations. The outcome of this case may have implications for how religious minorities are treated in the country and beyond.
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