Reported by: Prince Saah
Monrovia, Liberia – International human rights and religious-freedom organizations have accused South Korean authorities of crossing a “worrying line” in their treatment of religious minorities, calling for the immediate release of 95-year-old Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee. The call was made Friday, August 7, 2026, during an international press conference at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club, organized by Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), CAP Liberté de Conscience (CAP LC), FOREF, CESNUR and Bitter Winter.
During the conference, the organizations expressed concern over Lee’s continued pretrial detention, arguing that his advanced age, the presumption of innocence and the nature of the allegations against him raise serious questions about due process, proportionality and freedom of religion. However, they urged the Government of the Republic of Korea to consider less restrictive measures and release Lee, warning that the case could have broader implications for religious freedom and democratic rights in South Korea.
Reading the statement, Hans Noot, Associate Director of HRWF, said freedom of religion and freedom of expression are fundamental pillars of democratic societies. Also, he stressed that the organizations were not defending any particular religious doctrine but rather the principle that fundamental rights should apply equally to individuals and religious communities. “When religious communities are stigmatized, peaceful religious activities are restricted and dissent is treated as a threat, arguing that such practices could undermine wider democratic freedoms,” Noot warned.
For his part, Thierry Valle, President of CAP Liberté de Conscience, questioned the legality and proportionality of Lee’s detention, particularly in light of South Korea’s international human-rights commitments. Valle cited the country’s ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1990 and the Convention against Torture in 1995. Also, Michael Langhans, Executive Director of FOREF Germany, questioned whether continued detention was necessary when authorities already had sufficient evidence to proceed with an indictment.
He raised concerns about the neutrality of the investigation and the use of terms such as “sect” or “cult” to describe Shincheonji. Márk Nemes, Deputy Director of CESNUR, warned that developments surrounding Shincheonji could have consequences beyond South Korea, referring to scholarly investigations involving Shincheonji congregations in Europe, Argentina and Australia, which he said documented increased hostility toward members of the movement.
For his part, Massimo Introvigne, managing director of CESNUR and Editor-in-Chief of Bitter Winter, accused South Korean authorities of crossing “a worrying line” with Lee’s arrest. During his speech, he invoked international standards, including the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Mandela Rules, which call for consideration of less restrictive measures for elderly detainees accused of non-violent offenses.
Moreover, the organizations also raised other religious-freedom concerns in South Korea, including reported official scrutiny involving Segero Church in Busan, opposition to a mosque project in Daegu, conscientious objection to military service and religious accommodation in schools. At the conclusion of the press conference, participating scholars signed an official letter calling on the Government of the Republic of Korea to immediately release Lee Man-hee from custody. The groups said they would continue monitoring and documenting developments surrounding his case, as well as what they described as broader challenges to freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression in South Korea.
