An international human rights organization has brought before the United Nations concerns that negative perceptions and unverified materials from South Korea are fueling discrimination against members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in other countries, potentially undermining religious freedom for minority groups globally.
CAP LC, the Coordination des Associations et Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience, which holds special consultative status with the U.N. Economic and Social Council, submitted a joint written statement to the U.N. Human Rights Council on July 9. The statement focused less on the controversies surrounding Shincheonji itself and more on the standards by which such matters are assessed, warning that unfounded stigma could influence public opinion, administrative proceedings, and even judicial decisions abroad.
The statement cited specific cases. In the United Kingdom, the Charity Commission rejected Shincheonji Church's application for registration, labeling it a "cult"—a term with no clear legal definition. CAP LC argued that using such terms in official procedures creates a strong social stigma without legal basis. In German-speaking countries, members have faced workplace discrimination fueled by negative media coverage and a critical book published in 2025 by evangelical activists.
CAP LC urged governments to base any decisions concerning Shincheonji Church on verifiable evidence and clear legal standards. The organization emphasized that if unfounded stigma gains international acceptance, other religious minorities could face similar treatment, underscoring states' responsibility to protect the rights of all religious groups.
The statement also addressed controversy in South Korea over political participation by church members. CAP LC criticized claims that church members' party membership amounts to "religion-politics collusion," stating that political participation should not be grounds for suspicion solely because of religious affiliation. It called on the South Korean government to uphold religious freedom, non-discrimination, and state neutrality.
These concerns come amid a South Korean investigation into allegations related to church members' party membership. On June 24, a court issued an arrest warrant for Chairman Lee Man-hee, and on June 29, the government joint investigation headquarters indicted him on charges including violations of the Political Parties Act. Shincheonji Church maintains that the case should be handled according to due process and objective evidence, not social perceptions or political controversy. The church also questions the necessity and proportionality of detaining Lee, who is 95 years old and has cooperated with the investigation.
Shincheonji Church 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 authorities apply when dealing with religious minorities? The church said the issue goes beyond any single religious group and serves as a test of whether the rights of religious minorities are equally protected in domestic and international procedures. The international community is watching to see whether legal grounds and due process are consistently upheld, the church added.
CAP LC has previously raised issues at the United Nations 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. For more information, visit SCJ TV, the official broadcasting channel of Shincheonji Church of Jesus.
