Stigma Against Shincheonji Members Raises International Human Rights Concerns

CAP LC, an international human rights organization with special consultative status at the U.N. Economic and Social Council, has submitted a joint written statement to the U.N. Human Rights Council expressing alarm over the spread of discrimination and stigma against members of Shincheonji Church of Jesus. The statement, released on July 9, warns that negative perceptions and unverified materials originating in South Korea, if disseminated abroad, could influence public opinion, administrative decisions, and judicial outcomes in other countries.

CAP LC urged governments to base any actions regarding Shincheonji on verifiable evidence and clear legal standards, rather than unsubstantiated claims. The organization highlighted that the use of terms like "cult" in official proceedings—such as the U.K. Charity Commission's rejection of Shincheonji's registration—lacks legal clarity and can produce severe social stigma. In German-speaking countries, the statement noted cases of workplace discrimination fueled by negative media and a critical book by evangelical activists.

Shincheonji Church welcomed the statement, emphasizing that unfounded stigma could set a precedent for judging other religious minorities. The church pointed to the case of Chairman Lee Man-hee, aged 95, who was detained in June amid an investigation into church members' political party affiliations. CAP LC criticized claims of "religion-politics collusion," asserting that political participation should not be grounds for suspicion solely based on religious membership.

The statement called on South Korea to uphold religious freedom and neutrality, while Shincheonji maintains that due process and objective evidence must guide proceedings. The church argues that the detention of an elderly leader who cooperated with the investigation raises questions about proportionality. These cases, the church says, test whether legal grounds and due process are consistently applied to religious minorities domestically and internationally.

CAP LC, known for raising issues such as the persecution of the Church of Almighty God in China and Japan's request to dissolve the Unification Church, has brought this matter before the U.N. to highlight the broader implications for religious freedom. Shincheonji insists that the resolution of these cases will serve as a measure of social and institutional trust in protecting minority rights worldwide.

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