The case of Chairman Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old founder and leader of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, has been raised before the United Nations Human Rights Council amid concerns over his pretrial detention and treatment as an elderly detainee.
Paris-based CAP Freedom of Conscience, an international organization advocating for religious freedom, delivered an oral statement during the General Debate under Item 3 of the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council on the promotion and protection of all human rights.
The statement raises the case of Chairman Lee Man-hee, 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.
Shincheonji Church of Jesus has communities and Bible education centers in countries around the world, including the Philippines, where it has maintained a presence since 2013. Filipino members are among the international community following developments concerning the church’s founder.
CAP Freedom of Conscience expresses serious concern regarding what appears to be a politically driven and discriminatory investigation targeting a religious minority, as well as the conditions of detention. 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, raising grave concerns for the health of a 95-year-old detainee.
The statement recalls 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 urges 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.
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