London, 27 July 2026: In a written statement submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council, two international human rights organizations are urging decisions regarding faith communities to be based on verifiable evidence.
The joint submission was made by United for Human Rights and the Coordination of Associations and Individuals for Freedom of Conscience (CAP-LC), an organization with special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council. The statement, filed during the 62nd session of the Council on 25 May and circulated on 10 June under document number A/HRC/62/NGO/236, emphasizes the importance of considering established facts when making decisions that affect religious communities.
CAP-LC highlights the need for states to carefully assess the criteria used when evaluating minority faith groups. The organization presents this matter as one that extends beyond any single community, emphasizing the significance of objective evidence in such assessments.
The statement also notes the impact of information circulating internationally on administrative decisions in other countries. CAP-LC references the recent decision in the United Kingdom to register Shincheonji as a charity and the use of the word “cult” in public discussions. In Germany and other German-speaking countries, the organization has received reports of difficulties faced by members of Shincheonji in their professional and social lives.
The submission addresses the ongoing legal proceedings involving Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old chairman of Shincheonji. He was detained on 24 June in connection with alleged violations of the Political Parties Act and indicted on 29 June. The organization clarifies that it does not take a stance on the merits of the case but emphasizes the principles of presumption of innocence and the need for any deprivation of liberty to meet the tests of necessity and proportionality.
At the Ninth Annual Conference of the European Academy of Religion, held in Rome on 3 July, scholars discussed related themes in a session titled “Shincheonji, a Korean New Religion in Global Context.” Dr. Massimo Introvigne, founder and managing director of the Center for Studies on New Religions, noted that European legislation generally considers the imprisonment of individuals over 80 to be exceptional. He also referenced the United Nations Mandela Rules, which state that pre-trial detention should not be the norm.
Eric Roux, president of the European Interreligious Forum for Religious Freedom, focused on the importance of human dignity and recommended a review of the circumstances surrounding Lee’s detention. Alessandro Amicarelli, a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales and chairman of the European Federation for Freedom of Belief, highlighted South Korea’s reputation as a firm democracy committed to upholding human rights.
In conclusion, CAP-LC encourages states, courts, and international institutions to carefully consider how religious minorities are assessed and to ensure that decisions are based on evidence that can be verified. The organization emphasizes that freedom of religion, equality before the law, and the right to a fair trial are fundamental principles of a democratic society. CAP-LC invites reflection on this case and extends a welcoming spirit towards communities of all beliefs.
