U.N. Human Rights Council Urged to Protect Shincheonji from Stigma

Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, announced on July 9 that the international human rights organization CAP LC (Coordination des Associations et Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience) submitted a joint written statement to the U.N. Human Rights Council. The statement expressed concern over the spread of discrimination and stigma against Shincheonji members, urging governments to base decisions on verifiable evidence and clear legal standards rather than unverified materials. CAP LC, which holds special consultative status with the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), highlighted that negative perceptions from South Korea, if disseminated abroad, could impact public opinion and administrative decisions in other countries. The organization previously raised issues like the persecution of the Church of Almighty God in China and violations of religious freedom regarding Japan's dissolution order against the Unification Church.

The statement cited specific cases in the United Kingdom and German-speaking countries. In the UK, the Charity Commission rejected Shincheonji's registration application, describing the church as a 'cult'—a term lacking clear legal definition. In Germany and other German-speaking regions, members faced workplace discrimination driven by negative media and evangelical activists, particularly after a critical book published in 2025. CAP LC also addressed controversy in South Korea over political participation, criticizing claims that church members' party membership constitutes 'religion-politics collusion.' It called on the South Korean government to uphold religious freedom and non-discrimination. Meanwhile, South Korea is investigating allegations related to church members' party membership, with an arrest warrant issued for Chairman Lee Man-hee on June 24 and his indictment on June 29 for violations of the Political Parties Act. Shincheonji maintains that the case should be handled through due process and objective evidence, questioning the necessity of detention given Lee's advanced age (95) and cooperation.

Shincheonji Church of Jesus emphasized that the issues raised by CAP LC and the ongoing investigation in South Korea highlight a common question: what standards should state authorities apply when dealing with religious minorities? The church argues that this goes beyond a single religious group and tests whether rights of religious minorities are equally protected in domestic and international procedures. The international community is watching to see if legal grounds and due process are consistently upheld. How the case is resolved will serve as a measure of social and institutional trust in protecting religious minorities. SCJ TV, the official broadcasting channel of Shincheonji, aims to make Bible-based teachings accessible globally. For more information, visit the SCJ TV website.