Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
September 30, 2026
UN Human Rights Council Urged to Act on Detention of 95-Year-Old Religious Leader
TLDR
- CAP Freedom of Conscience urges UN action on Lee Man-hee's detention, pressuring South Korea to uphold religious freedom and fair trial standards.
- CAP Freedom of Conscience cited ICCPR and Nelson Mandela Rules to argue Lee Man-hee's pretrial detention violates international human rights obligations.
- Advocating for a 95-year-old detainee's health and fair trial, CAP Freedom of Conscience seeks to protect religious minorities and human dignity worldwide.
- A 95-year-old Korean War veteran and religious leader is held in unairconditioned cells during a severe heatwave, sparking UN human rights debate.
Impact - Why it Matters
This case underscores the critical importance of upholding international human rights standards, particularly for religious minorities and the elderly. The detention of a 95-year-old religious leader under conditions that jeopardize his health raises urgent questions about the proportionality of pretrial detention and the treatment of vulnerable individuals. It also highlights the need for independent judicial oversight and respect for freedom of religion or belief. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how the Republic of Korea and other nations balance security concerns with fundamental human rights, affecting not only the Shincheonji community but also broader efforts to combat discrimination and ensure fair trials globally. As the international community watches, the UN Human Rights Council's response may influence future advocacy for detainees' rights and religious freedom.
Summary
CAP Freedom of Conscience, a European nongovernmental organization with UN ECOSOC consultative status, delivered an oral statement on 18 September 2026 at the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council. The statement, made during the general debate under Item 3, focused on the case of Chairman Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old founder and leader of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. Lee, a Korean War veteran, is currently in pretrial detention at the Seoul Detention Center in the Republic of Korea on non-violent charges. CAP Freedom of Conscience expressed serious concern over what it describes as a politically driven and discriminatory investigation targeting a religious minority, as well as the conditions of his detention.
Despite having a fixed residence and posing no flight risk, Chairman Lee was held in cells without air conditioning during Seoul's most severe heatwave, raising grave concerns for the health of a 95-year-old detainee. The statement highlighted that such treatment contradicts the Republic of Korea's international obligations, including Article 9 of the ICCPR (detention must be necessary and proportionate), Article 10 (humane treatment), the Nelson Mandela Rules (healthcare equivalent to community standards), the Tokyo Rules (pretrial detention as a last resort), and Article 18 (freedom of religion or belief). CAP Freedom of Conscience urged the 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. The organization works to protect freedom of religion or belief and raise awareness of discrimination affecting religious and belief communities. Shincheonji Church of Jesus operates SCJ TV, its official broadcasting channel, which provides Bible-based teachings worldwide. For more information, visit https://www.shincheonji.org/en or https://www.scjtvglobal.com.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content distributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, UN Human Rights Council Urged to Act on Detention of 95-Year-Old Religious Leader
