The international human rights organization CAP LC, the Coordination des Associations et Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience, has submitted a joint written statement to the U.N. Human Rights Council expressing concern over the spread of discrimination and stigma against members of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, according to a July 9 announcement by the church. CAP LC, which holds special consultative status with the U.N. Economic and Social Council, urged governments to base any decisions concerning the church on verifiable evidence and clear legal standards.
In its statement, CAP LC focused less on the controversy surrounding Shincheonji itself than on the standards by which such matters are assessed. The group expressed concern that negative perceptions and unverified materials formed in South Korea, if disseminated abroad, could have a serious impact on public opinion in other countries and on administrative and judicial decisions. Shincheonji Church of Jesus said the statement highlighted that if unfounded stigma were allowed to gain international acceptance, other religious minorities could also be judged similarly, underscoring states' responsibility to protect the rights of all religious minorities.
The statement cited cases in the United Kingdom and German-speaking countries. In the UK, the Charity Commission rejected Shincheonji's application for registration, describing the church as a "cult," a term whose legal definition remains unclear. CAP LC pointed out that using such terms without a clear legal basis in official administrative procedures can produce strong social stigma. In Germany and other German-speaking countries, members have faced workplace discrimination amid negative public sentiment driven by certain media outlets and church figures. A critical book published in 2025 by evangelical activists was a major factor in deepening discriminatory perceptions, according to CAP LC.
Shincheonji Church of Jesus said such cases are not isolated, as unfounded stigma and unverified claims are causing disadvantages for individual members in workplaces, families, and broader social lives. The church called for administrative and judicial decisions in each country to be based on clear legal standards and verifiable evidence.
The statement also shed light on controversy in South Korea over political participation. CAP LC criticized claims by some political forces that party membership of Shincheonji members amounts to "religion-politics collusion," saying political participation should not be treated as grounds for suspicion solely because those involved are members of a particular religion. On that basis, CAP LC called on the South Korean government to uphold freedom of religion, non-discrimination, and religious neutrality.
Amid these concerns, South Korea is investigating allegations related to church members' party membership. On June 24, a court issued an arrest warrant for Chairman Lee Man-hee, citing concerns including possible destruction of evidence. On June 29, the government joint investigation headquarters indicted Lee while in detention on charges including violations of the Political Parties Act. Shincheonji Church of Jesus maintains that this case should be handled according to due process and objective evidence, not social perceptions or political controversy, a position aligned with CAP LC's concerns.
The necessity and proportionality of detention during the investigation have also emerged as issues. Shincheonji Church of Jesus maintains that detention should be subject to stricter scrutiny given that Lee, born in 1931 and now 95, is of advanced age, has actively cooperated with the investigation, and key materials have already been secured through searches and seizures.
Shincheonji Church of Jesus said the cases of discrimination cited in CAP LC's statement and the investigation in South Korea raise a common question: what standards should state judicial and administrative authorities apply when dealing with religious minorities? The church said the issue goes beyond controversy over a particular religious group and serves as a measure of whether the rights of religious minorities are being equally protected in domestic and international procedures. This is why the international community is watching the case, to determine whether legal grounds and due process are being consistently upheld in South Korea's investigation and in administrative and judicial decisions in other countries.
Ultimately, the church said, how the case is resolved would test the strength of social and institutional trust in the protection of religious minorities, beyond the matter of a single religious organization. SCJ is an abbreviation for Shincheonji. SCJ TV is the official broadcasting channel of Shincheonji Church of Jesus. As a global media platform featuring worship, Bible education, teaching, and cultural content, SCJ TV aims to make its Bible-based teachings accessible to audiences worldwide, transcending geographical and linguistic boundaries. For more information, visit https://www.shincheonji.org/en or https://www.scjtvglobal.com.
