A 95-year-old religious leader and Korean War veteran is being held in pretrial detention in South Korea on non-violent charges, prompting a formal appeal to the United Nations Human Rights Council. On 18 September 2026, CAP Freedom of Conscience delivered an oral statement during the general debate under Item 3 of the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, raising the case of Chairman Lee Man-hee, founder and leader of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. The organization expressed serious concern that the investigation appears politically driven and discriminatory against a religious minority, and that the conditions of detention pose grave risks to a man of advanced age.
According to the statement, Chairman Lee was held in cells without air conditioning during Seoul's most severe heatwave, despite having a fixed residence and posing no flight risk. CAP Freedom of Conscience argued that such treatment violates the Republic of Korea's international obligations. Specifically, 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 the organization considers disregarded in this case.
The implications of this statement extend beyond a single case. By bringing the matter before the Human Rights Council, CAP Freedom of Conscience is pressuring South Korea to honor its treaty commitments. The organization urges the Council to call on the Republic of Korea to offer alternatives to detention, allow an independent medical assessment, and ensure a fair and impartial trial. If the Council takes up the issue, it could set a precedent for how religious minority leaders are treated in pretrial detention, particularly in cases involving non-violent charges. It also raises broader questions about the use of pretrial detention as a punitive measure rather than a last resort.
CAP Freedom of Conscience, a secular European NGO with United Nations Consultative Status since 1995, is dedicated to protecting the right to freedom of religion and belief. It combats all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief by alerting European and international bodies. The organization collects testimonies of discrimination and human rights violations affecting religious or belief communities to disseminate them to international bodies, raise awareness, and generate debate on the protection of freedom of religion and belief. It also advocates for any religious or spiritual group facing discrimination to have their right to freedom of religion and belief recognized. CAP Freedom of Conscience is a member of the European Federation for Freedom of Belief (FOB), the European Network of Religion and Belief (ENORB), and participates in the Civil Society Platform of Fundamental Rights created by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency.
The case of Chairman Lee Man-hee serves as a test of South Korea's adherence to international human rights standards. As the Human Rights Council continues its 63rd session, the international community will be watching whether the Council heeds CAP Freedom of Conscience's call and whether South Korea responds by aligning its judicial practices with its obligations under international law. The outcome could have lasting effects on the treatment of religious minorities and the use of pretrial detention in the country.
