CAP Freedom of Conscience, a secular European NGO with United Nations Consultative Status, delivered an oral statement on 18 September 2026 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 and a veteran of the Korean War, who is currently held in pretrial detention at the Seoul Detention Center in the Republic of Korea on non-violent charges.
The organization expressed serious concern that the investigation appears to be politically driven and discriminatory, targeting a religious minority. It also highlighted the conditions of detention, noting that despite his fixed residence and the absence of any flight risk, Chairman Lee was held in cells without air conditioning during Seoul's most severe heatwave. This, CAP Freedom of Conscience 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 CAP Freedom of Conscience considers disregarded in this case.
CAP Freedom of Conscience urged the Council to call on the Republic of Korea to honour its treaty obligations by offering alternatives to detention, allowing an independent medical assessment, and ensuring a fair and impartial trial. The case underscores broader concerns about the treatment of religious minorities and the use of pretrial detention, particularly for elderly individuals. For observers of international human rights and religious freedom, the outcome could set a precedent for how the UN addresses similar cases and whether South Korea adjusts its judicial practices. The organization's intervention at the Human Rights Council highlights the ongoing scrutiny of member states' compliance with international law and the protection of fundamental freedoms.
