Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), alongside CAP Liberté de Conscience, FOREF, CESNUR, and Bitter Winter, convened a press conference at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club to address escalating concerns over freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression in South Korea. The event, held on August 7, 2026, spotlighted the pretrial detention of 95-year-old Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee and 83-year-old Hak-ja Han Moon of the Family Federation, questioning the proportionality and humanitarian implications of such measures.
Hans Noot, Associate Director of HRWF, opened the conference by emphasizing that the issues at stake 'lie at the heart of democratic society.' He warned that stigmatizing religious communities and restricting peaceful gatherings have consequences that 'extend far beyond any single group or case.' Noot clarified that the conference was not about defending any particular theology but about 'defending a principle: that fundamental rights apply equally to all.'
Thierry Valle, President of CAP Liberté de Conscience, invoked South Korea's ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1990) and the Convention against Torture (1995) to question the legality of detaining a 95-year-old in pretrial detention. He stressed that the presumption of innocence must prevail over any presumption of guilt, and cited international precedents where alternative measures were used, such as Cardinal Joseph Zen's release on bail in Hong Kong and the house arrest of Buddhist Patriarch Thich Quang Do in Vietnam.
Michael Langhans, Executive Director of FOREF Germany, provided a legal analysis questioning the necessity of pretrial detention for Chairman Lee, given that evidence was allegedly sufficient for indictment. He raised concerns about whether the evidence was gathered neutrally or through a narrative framing the defendant's community as a 'sect' or 'cult.' Langhans argued that the case presents a broader question for lawmakers: whether measures meant to protect fair elections can be applied without nullifying constitutionally and internationally guaranteed rights.
Márk Nemes, Deputy Director of CESNUR, highlighted the global ramifications of the persecution of Shincheonji, noting recent scholarly investigations in Europe, Argentina, and Australia that found increasing hostility toward the movement. He emphasized that Shincheonji is a global religious movement, and the disproportionate treatment in South Korea affects the rights of congregants abroad, which are protected under ICCPR Articles 18 and 19.
Massimo Introvigne, Managing Director of CESNUR and Editor-in-Chief of Bitter Winter, declared that South Korea 'has crossed a worrying line' by arresting Chairman Lee. He argued that international standards, such as the Mandela Rules, would favor house arrest for a 95-year-old accused of a non-violent offence. He described the charges, tied to political participation by members of a religious minority, as 'legally and conceptually overstretched,' and warned of a broader pattern of pressure against minority faiths in the country.
The organizations called on South Korean authorities, the media, and the international community to scrutinize these developments with attention to due process, proportionality, and equal protection of fundamental rights. At the conclusion of the press conference, scholars signed an official letter urging the Government of the Republic of Korea to immediately release Chairman Lee from custody. The full proceedings are available on HRWF's YouTube channel, and additional articles can be found here in English and Korean.
