A European nongovernmental organization has brought the case of a 95-year-old religious leader to the United Nations Human Rights Council, raising concerns about the treatment of elderly detainees and the targeting of religious minorities in the Republic of Korea.
In an oral statement delivered on September 18, 2026, during the general debate under Item 3 of the Council's 63rd session, CAP Freedom of Conscience highlighted the situation of Chairman Lee Man-hee, founder and leader of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus and a veteran of the Korean War. Lee is currently held in pretrial detention at the Seoul Detention Center on non-violent charges.
CAP Freedom of Conscience expressed serious concern over what it described as a politically driven and discriminatory investigation targeting a religious minority. The organization also raised alarm about the conditions of Lee's detention, noting that despite his fixed residence and the absence of any flight risk, he was held in cells without air conditioning during Seoul's most severe heatwave. Such conditions, the group said, raise grave concerns for the health of a 95-year-old detainee.
The statement argued that the treatment of Lee runs counter to the Republic of Korea's international obligations. It specifically cited Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which requires detention to be necessary and proportionate; Article 10, which guarantees humane treatment; the Nelson Mandela Rules, which entitle detainees to healthcare equivalent to that available in the community; the Tokyo Rules, which make pretrial detention a measure of last resort; and Article 18, which protects freedom of religion or belief. CAP Freedom of Conscience considers that right to have been disregarded in this case.
The organization urged the Human Rights Council to call on the Republic of Korea to honor its treaty obligations by offering alternatives to detention, allowing an independent medical assessment, and ensuring a fair and impartial trial.
CAP Liberté de Conscience, established in 1995, is a European nongovernmental organization with United Nations ECOSOC consultative status. It works to protect freedom of religion or belief and raise awareness of discrimination affecting religious and belief communities.
The Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, operates a global media platform, SCJ TV, which features worship, Bible education, teaching, and cultural content. The church aims to make its Bible-based teachings accessible to audiences worldwide, transcending geographical and linguistic boundaries. More information about the church is available at https://www.shincheonji.org/en, and its official broadcasting channel can be found at https://www.scjtvglobal.com.
The case underscores growing international scrutiny of South Korea's treatment of religious minorities and the detention conditions of elderly prisoners. It also highlights the broader role of UN mechanisms in holding member states accountable to their human rights commitments. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how religious freedom and the rights of the elderly are protected in pretrial detention, with implications for human rights advocacy worldwide.
