Human rights groups urge South Korea to review detention of Shincheonji leader

International human rights and religious freedom organizations have expressed concern regarding the pretrial detention of Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old chairman of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in South Korea.

During a press conference at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club, groups including Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), CAP Liberté de Conscience, FOREF, CESNUR, and Bitter Winter urged the South Korean government to review the necessity of his continued detention. The organizations argued that the government should consider his age, the nature of the allegations, and the principle of the presumption of innocence.

Advocates also raised concerns regarding the treatment of other elderly religious leaders, such as 83-year-old Hak-ja Han Moon of the Family Federation. Hans Noot, Associate Director of HRWF, stated that the issue concerns the fundamental principle that human rights must apply equally to all, warning against the stigmatization of religious communities and the restriction of peaceful gatherings.