On September 18, 2026, CAP Freedom of Conscience, a secular European non-governmental organization with United Nations Consultative Status, delivered an oral statement during the general debate under Item 3 of the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The statement focused on the case of Chairman Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old founder and leader of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, who is currently held in pretrial detention at the Seoul Detention Center in the Republic of Korea on non-violent charges.
CAP Freedom of Conscience expressed serious concern that the investigation appears to be politically driven and discriminatory, targeting a religious minority. The organization also highlighted the conditions of detention, noting that despite having a fixed residence and posing no flight risk, Chairman Lee was held in cells without air conditioning during Seoul's most severe heatwave. This, the group warned, raises 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. Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) requires detention to be necessary and proportionate; Article 10 guarantees humane treatment; the Nelson Mandela Rules entitle detainees to healthcare equivalent to that available in the community; the Tokyo Rules make pretrial detention a measure of last resort; and Article 18 protects freedom of religion or belief—a right that CAP Freedom of Conscience considers disregarded in this case.
CAP Freedom of Conscience urged the 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 implications of this case extend beyond the individual. It tests South Korea's commitment to international human rights standards, particularly in the treatment of religious minorities and the elderly. If the allegations are substantiated, they could signal a troubling trend of using pretrial detention to target minority faith leaders, undermining freedom of religion or belief. The case also draws attention to the conditions in South Korean detention facilities, especially during extreme weather events, and may prompt broader scrutiny of detention practices.
For the international community, the statement at the Human Rights Council serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the ICCPR and other human rights instruments. It also highlights the role of NGOs like CAP Freedom of Conscience in bringing such issues to the global stage. The organization, founded in 1995, is dedicated to protecting the right to freedom of religion and belief and combats discrimination based on religion or belief by alerting European and international bodies. It collects testimonies of discrimination and human rights violations affecting religious or belief communities to disseminate them to international bodies, raise awareness, and generate debate.
CAP Freedom of Conscience is a member of the European Federation for Freedom of Belief (FOB), the European Network on Religion and Belief (ENORB), and participates in the Civil Society Platform of Fundamental Rights created by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency. Its advocacy in this case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by religious minorities worldwide and the need for continued vigilance in protecting their rights.
As the Human Rights Council considers the statement, the pressure on South Korea to address these concerns may increase. The outcome could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future, reinforcing the principle that pretrial detention should be a last resort and that the rights of all individuals, regardless of age or religious affiliation, must be respected.
