International human rights groups are calling on South Korea to uphold its international obligations regarding freedom of religion, following a press conference in Seoul that highlighted concerns over the treatment of elderly religious leaders and a pattern of pressure against minority faiths.
Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), alongside CAP Liberté de Conscience (CAP LC), FOREF, CESNUR, and Bitter Winter, convened at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club to address issues of due process and proportionality in the cases of 95-year-old Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee and 83-year-old Mrs. Hak-ja Han Moon of the Family Federation. The groups urged South Korean authorities to ensure that legal responses to religious minorities remain neutral and consistent with the country's human-rights commitments.
Hans Noot, Associate Director of HRWF, emphasized that the issues at stake "lie at the heart of democratic society," warning that stigmatizing religious communities and restricting peaceful gatherings have consequences that "extend far beyond any single group or case." He stressed that the conference was about defending the principle that fundamental rights apply equally to all.
Thierry Valle, President of CAP Liberté de Conscience, questioned the legality of detaining a 95-year-old in pretrial detention, referencing South Korea's ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture. He argued that the presumption of innocence must prevail and cited precedents such as Cardinal Joseph Zen's release on bail in Hong Kong and Vietnam's house arrest of Buddhist Patriarch Thich Quang Do.
Michael Langhans, Executive Director of FOREF Germany, presented a legal analysis questioning the necessity of pretrial detention for Chairman Lee, given that evidence may already be sufficient for indictment. He raised concerns about whether evidence was gathered neutrally or through a narrative framing the community as a "sect" or "cult," and whether measures meant to protect elections can be applied without nullifying the right to freedom of religion.
Márk Nemes, Deputy Director of CESNUR, highlighted findings from recent scholarly investigations in Europe, Argentina, and Australia, which found increased hostility toward Shincheonji congregations abroad. He stressed that Shincheonji is a global movement, and the disproportionate persecution in South Korea affects the rights of congregants worldwide, as enshrined in ICCPR Articles 18 and 19.
Massimo Introvigne, Managing Director of CESNUR, said South Korea "has crossed a worrying line" by arresting Chairman Lee, arguing that international standards like the Mandela Rules would call for house arrest for a 95-year-old accused of a non-violent offence. He described the charges, tied to political participation by religious minorities, as "legally and conceptually overstretched."
The organizations also noted concerns regarding Segero Church in Busan, which continues to face harassment after Pastor Son Hyun-bo's release, as well as issues of conscientious objection, a mosque project in Daegu, and religious accommodation in education. Critics argue that alternative service for conscientious objectors, introduced after years of imprisonment of Jehovah's Witnesses, is punitive, requiring 36 months in correctional facilities—twice the length of regular service.
The scholars signed a letter calling on the South Korean government to immediately release Chairman Lee from custody. They urged authorities, the media, and the international community to examine these developments with attention to due process and the equal protection of fundamental rights.
