U.N-linked rights group raises concerns over treatment of Shincheonji members

An international human rights organisation has urged governments to ensure that administrative and judicial decisions involving members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus are based on verifiable evidence and clear legal standards rather than public perception or unverified claims.

The Shincheonji Church said the Coordination des Associations et Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience (CAP LC), an international NGO with special consultative status at the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), submitted a written statement to the U.N. Human Rights Council expressing concern over discrimination against the church's members in several countries.

According to the statement, CAP LC warned that negative perceptions and unverified information originating in South Korea risk influencing official decisions abroad and could undermine the rights of religious minorities.

The organisation cited the United Kingdom, where the Charity Commission rejected Shincheonji's application for charitable status after describing it as a "cult," and German-speaking countries, where it said some members had experienced workplace discrimination amid negative media coverage and criticism from religious groups.

CAP LC also raised concerns over South Korea's ongoing investigation into allegations involving the political party membership of Shincheonji members.

The organisation argued that political participation should not be viewed with suspicion solely because of an individual's religious affiliation and urged authorities to uphold freedom of religion, non-discrimination and state neutrality.

The statement comes as Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee, 95, remains in detention after being indicted on charges including alleged violations of South Korea's Political Parties Act.

The church has maintained that the case should be handled through due process and objective evidence, while questioning the necessity of detaining its elderly leader during the investigation.

Shincheonji said the issues highlighted by CAP LC extend beyond its own case and raise broader questions about how governments and courts treat religious minorities.

It argued that the outcome would be closely watched internationally as a measure of whether legal standards and due process are applied consistently in cases involving religious groups.