UN Human Rights Council Petitioned Over Discrimination Against Shincheonji Members Abroad

The Coordination des Associations et Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience (CAP LC), an international NGO with special consultative status at the UN Economic and Social Council, has submitted a joint written statement to the UN Human Rights Council expressing concern over the spread of discrimination and stigma against members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. The statement, released on July 9, 2026, highlights how negative perceptions and unverified materials formed in South Korea, when disseminated abroad, could impact public opinion and even administrative and judicial decisions in other countries.

CAP LC urged governments to base any decisions concerning Shincheonji Church of Jesus on verifiable evidence and clear legal standards. The church, officially known as Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, said the statement underscores the responsibility of states to protect the rights of all religious minorities, warning that if unfounded stigma gains international acceptance, other religious minorities could face similar judgments.

The statement cited specific cases in the United Kingdom and German-speaking countries. In the UK, the Charity Commission rejected the church's registration application, describing it as a 'cult'—a term without a clear legal definition. CAP LC noted that using such terms in official administrative procedures can produce strong social stigma. In Germany and other German-speaking countries, members have faced workplace discrimination driven by negative public sentiment fueled by certain media outlets and church figures. A critical book published in 2025 by evangelical activists was identified as a major factor deepening these discriminatory perceptions.

Shincheonji Church of Jesus said these cases demonstrate that unfounded stigma and unverified claims cause disadvantages for individual members in workplaces, families, and broader social lives. The church called for administrative and judicial decisions in each country to be based on clear legal standards and verifiable evidence, rather than social perceptions.

The statement also addressed controversy in South Korea over political participation. CAP LC criticized claims by some political forces that party membership by Shincheonji members amounts to 'religion-politics collusion,' stating that political participation should not be treated as grounds for suspicion solely because individuals belong to a particular religion. CAP LC called on the South Korean government to uphold freedom of religion, non-discrimination, and religious neutrality.

Amid these concerns, South Korea is investigating allegations related to church members' party membership. On June 24, a court issued an arrest warrant for Chairman Lee Man-hee, citing concerns including possible destruction of evidence. On June 29, the government joint investigation headquarters indicted Lee while in detention on charges including violations of the Political Parties Act. Shincheonji Church of Jesus maintains that this case should be handled according to due process and objective evidence, in line with CAP LC's concerns. The church also questions the necessity and proportionality of detention, noting that Lee, born in 1931 and now 95, has actively cooperated with the investigation and that key materials have been secured through searches and seizures.

Shincheonji Church of Jesus said the cases of discrimination cited in CAP LC's statement and the investigation in South Korea raise a common question: what standards should state judicial and administrative authorities apply when dealing with religious minorities? The church said the issue goes beyond controversy over a particular religious group and serves as a measure of whether the rights of religious minorities are equally protected in domestic and international procedures. It said the international community is watching to determine whether legal grounds and the principles of due process are consistently upheld in South Korea's investigation and in administrative and judicial decisions in other countries. Ultimately, the church said, how the case is resolved will test the strength of social and institutional trust in the protection of religious minorities.