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, has been brought before the United Nations Human Rights Council by CAP Freedom of Conscience, a secular European NGO with UN Consultative Status. In an oral statement delivered on 18 September 2026 during the general debate under Item 3 of the Council's 63rd session, the organization expressed serious concern over what it describes as a politically driven and discriminatory investigation targeting a religious minority, as well as the conditions of Lee's pretrial detention at the Seoul Detention Center in the Republic of Korea.
The statement emphasizes 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, raising grave concerns for the health of a 95-year-old detainee. CAP Freedom of Conscience argues 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 the organization considers disregarded in this case.
The implications of this intervention are significant. It underscores ongoing concerns about the treatment of religious minorities in South Korea and the potential misuse of pretrial detention for non-violent charges. By bringing the case to the Human Rights Council, CAP Freedom of Conscience aims to pressure the South Korean government to honor its treaty obligations. The organization urges the Council to call on the Republic of Korea to offer alternatives to detention, allow an independent medical assessment, and ensure a fair and impartial trial. This case also highlights the broader issue of how states balance security concerns with fundamental rights, particularly for elderly detainees and minority religious groups.
CAP Freedom of Conscience, created in 1995, is dedicated to protecting the right to freedom of religion and belief. It combats all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief by alerting European and international bodies. The organization collects testimonies of discrimination and human rights violations affecting religious or belief communities to disseminate them to international bodies, raise awareness, and generate debate on the protection of freedom of religion and belief. It also advocates for any religious or spiritual group facing discrimination to have their right to freedom of religion and belief recognized. CAP Freedom of Conscience is a member of the European Federation for Freedom of Belief (FOB), the European Network of Religion and Belief (ENORB), and participates in the Civil Society Platform of Fundamental Rights created by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency.
The case of Chairman Lee Man-hee serves as a test for South Korea's commitment to international human rights standards. As the Human Rights Council continues its 63rd session, the international community will be watching how the Republic of Korea responds to these allegations. The outcome could set a precedent for how religious minorities are treated in the country and reinforce the principle that pretrial detention should not be used disproportionately, especially for the elderly and those who pose no threat to society.
