Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
July 31, 2026
European Scholars Urge South Korea to Release Elderly Shincheonji Leader
TLDR
- South Korea's detention of Shincheonji's 95-year-old chairman may tarnish its global reputation, offering competitors leverage in diplomatic and economic spheres.
- The detention involves charges under the Political Parties Act, with claims of mass member registration into a political party, while the church says participation was individual and cooperative.
- International scholars and human rights groups urge South Korea to release Lee Man-hee, citing violations of international law and the need to uphold human dignity and religious freedom.
- European scholars and the UN have flagged the case of Lee Man-hee, noting that EU rules favor house arrest for those over 80, making his detention an international scandal.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because it highlights a potential conflict between national security measures and fundamental human rights, specifically religious freedom and the treatment of the elderly. The detention of a 95-year-old religious leader on non-violent charges raises global concerns about the erosion of democratic principles and the rule of law. If South Korea, a key democratic ally, is seen as violating international standards, it could undermine its reputation and set a dangerous precedent for other nations. The case also illustrates the power of international advocacy in holding governments accountable, and the outcome could influence how religious minorities are treated worldwide.
Summary
European scholars of religion are urging the South Korean government to release Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old Chairman of the Shincheonji Church, who has been detained since June 24 on charges of violating the Political Parties Act. The scholars argue that detaining an elderly person over non-violent allegations contravenes international law and human rights standards. The European Academy of Religion (EuARe) addressed the situation at its Ninth Annual Conference in Rome, where experts like Dr. Massimo Introvigne, founder of CESNUR, and Eric Roux, president of the European Interreligious Forum for Religious Freedom, condemned the detention, citing the UN's Mandela Rules and the disproportionate treatment of a non-violent elderly individual. Human rights lawyer Alessandro Amicarelli described the detention as shocking for a democracy like South Korea, emphasizing that it undermines the country's constitutional commitment to human rights.
The case has escalated beyond academic circles, with international human rights organizations such as United for Human Rights and CAP-LC submitting a joint statement to the UN Human Rights Council, urging South Korea to uphold freedom of religion and state neutrality. They noted the government's creation of a joint police-prosecutor task force targeting Shincheonji and public references to the church as a 'criminal organization,' which conflicts with the presumption of innocence. Shincheonji Church maintains that members freely participated in political activities and that Chairman Lee has cooperated throughout the investigation. The church asserts that his release is vital for protecting religious freedom and democratic values. As global support grows, pressure mounts on South Korean authorities to review the detention. For more information, visit https://www.shincheonji.org/en.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, European Scholars Urge South Korea to Release Elderly Shincheonji Leader
