Shincheonji leader Lee Man‑hee's detention draws global human‑rights criticism

An international human‑rights NGO, CAP LC, submitted a joint statement to the U.N. Human Rights Council warning that negative perceptions of Shincheonji Church members abroad are leading to discrimination in countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany. The NGO urged governments to base any administrative or judicial actions on verifiable evidence and clear legal standards.

European scholars and religious‑freedom advocates have called on South Korean authorities to release 95‑year‑old Shincheonji chairman Lee Man‑hee, who was detained on 24 June and indicted on 30 June for allegedly registering about 50,000 members with a political party. Critics argue that his detention violates international standards for the treatment of elderly prisoners, including the U.N.’s Mandela Rules, and risks damaging South Korea’s democratic reputation.