Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, announced on July 9 that the international human rights organization CAP LC (Coordination des Associations et Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience) has submitted a joint written statement to the U.N. Human Rights Council expressing concern over the spread of discrimination and stigma against its members abroad. CAP LC, which holds special consultative status with the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), focused on the standards by which such matters are assessed rather than the controversy surrounding the church itself.
The statement warned that negative perceptions and unverified materials formed in South Korea, if disseminated abroad, could seriously impact public opinion and 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 said the statement showed that if unfounded stigma gained international acceptance, other religious minorities could face similar judgment, underscoring states' responsibility to protect religious minority rights.
CAP LC has previously raised issues including the persecution of the Church of Almighty God in China and concerns over religious freedom violations related to the Japanese government's request for a dissolution order against the Unification Church. The church noted that such an international NGO issuing a statement demonstrated that the case was drawing attention under international human rights standards.
The statement cited cases in the United Kingdom and German-speaking countries. In the UK, the Charity Commission rejected Shincheonji Church of Jesus' application for registration, describing the church as a "cult," a term whose legal definition remains unclear. CAP LC pointed out that using such terms without a clear legal basis in official procedures can produce strong social stigma. In Germany and other German-speaking countries, members have faced workplace discrimination amid negative public sentiment driven by certain media and church figures. A critical book published in 2025 by evangelical activists was cited as a major factor deepening discriminatory perceptions.
The church said such cases were not isolated, and unfounded stigma was causing disadvantages for individual members in workplaces, families, and social lives. It called for administrative and judicial decisions to be based on clear legal standards and verifiable evidence. The statement also addressed controversy in South Korea over political participation, criticizing claims that party membership of Shincheonji members amounted to "religion-politics collusion." 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. The church maintains that the case should be handled according to due process and objective evidence, not social perceptions or political controversy, aligning with CAP LC's concerns.
The necessity and proportionality of detention during the investigation have also emerged as issues. The church argues that detention should be subject to stricter scrutiny given Lee's advanced age of 95, his active cooperation with the investigation, and that key materials have already been secured through searches and seizures.
Shincheonji Church of Jesus said the cases of discrimination 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 serves as a measure of whether religious minority rights are equally protected in domestic and international procedures, and why the international community is watching to see if legal grounds and due process are consistently upheld. Ultimately, how the case is resolved will test the strength of social and institutional trust in protecting religious minorities.
