European scholars of religion and human rights experts are urging the South Korean government to release Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old Chairman of Shincheonji Church, who has been detained since June 24 on charges including violations of the Political Parties Act. The detention, which has sparked international concern, was discussed at the Ninth Annual Conference of the European Academy of Religion (EuARe) held in Rome on July 3, where academics and advocates highlighted what they see as a violation of international norms and human rights standards.
Dr. Massimo Introvigne, a sociologist of religion and founder of the Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR), criticized the detention, noting that in European Union countries, individuals over 80 are only exceptionally placed in jail, and only for violent crimes. "Here, of course, there are no blood crimes, and the accusations are violations of electoral law," he said. He further argued that the detention violates the United Nations' Mandela Rules, which stipulate that preliminary detention should be exceptional, especially for the elderly. "What is happening is an unmitigated scandal, which hides a political and religious vendetta," he added.
Eric Roux, president of the European Interreligious Forum for Religious Freedom (EIFRF), echoed these sentiments, stating that putting a 95-year-old in jail is incompatible with human dignity. "Even if what you pretend he has done is true, you would not put a man of this age in prison as is the case now," he said, urging a swift review to avoid damage to South Korea's reputation.
Human rights lawyer Alessandro Amicarelli, chairman of the European Federation for Freedom of Belief (FOB), expressed shock at the situation, saying it is unthinkable in a democratic country. "South Korea is departing from its own Constitution, its own human rights foundation," he said, adding his support for Shincheonji in its fight against alleged persecution.
The church has consistently maintained that individual members freely participated in political activities and that both Chairman Lee and the church have cooperated fully with the investigation. The church also expressed deep regret, stating that detaining an elderly man of 95 is effectively a form of physical punishment.
The international dimension of this case is growing. United for Human Rights and the Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience (CAP-LC) submitted a joint written statement to the 62nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on May 25, assessing that the situation for Shincheonji has intensified in South Korea. The statement noted that framing members' registration with a political party as evidence of "religion–politics collusion" is inconsistent with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees every citizen the right to participate in political life.
The organizations also referenced a December 2025 presidential order creating a joint police–prosecutor task force explicitly targeting Shincheonji, and public statements by senior officials referring to the church as a "criminal organization," which they say are incompatible with the presumption of innocence. They urged the South Korean government to reaffirm its commitment to freedom of religion, non-discrimination, and state neutrality.
Shincheonji Church noted that international support for Chairman Lee's release is growing, increasing pressure on the South Korean government and judiciary. "The prompt release of Chairman Lee is a matter of safeguarding freedom of religion and human rights, which are core values of democracy," the church stated.
The case has broader implications for religious freedom and the treatment of elderly detainees in South Korea, as well as for the country's international standing. As scholars and human rights groups continue to voice concern, the South Korean government faces mounting calls to review its actions and align with international human rights standards.
