The case of Chairman Lee Man-hee before the Human Rights Council
On 18 September 2026, CAP Freedom of Conscience delivered an oral statement during the general debate under Item 3 of the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, devoted to the promotion and protection of all human rights.
The statement raises the case of Chairman Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old founder and leader of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus and a veteran of the Korean War, who is currently held in pretrial detention at the Seoul Detention Center in the Republic of Korea on non-violent charges.
CAP Freedom of Conscience expresses serious concern regarding what appears to be a politically driven and discriminatory investigation targeting a religious minority, as well as the conditions of detention. Despite his fixed residence and the absence of any flight risk, Chairman Lee was held in cells without air conditioning during Seoul’s most severe heatwave, raising grave concerns for the health of a 95-year-old detainee.
The statement recalls that such treatment runs counter to the Republic of Korea’s international obligations: Article 9 of the ICCPR requires detention to be necessary and proportionate; Article 10 guarantees humane treatment; the Nelson Mandela Rules entitle detainees to healthcare equivalent to that available in the community; the Tokyo Rules make pretrial detention a measure of last resort; and Article 18 protects freedom of religion or belief — a right CAP Freedom of Conscience considers disregarded in this case.
CAP Freedom of Conscience urges the Council to call on the Republic of Korea to honour its treaty obligations by offering alternatives to detention, allowing an independent medical assessment, and ensuring a fair and impartial trial.
The full video is available below.
Source : https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k11/k118fegrj7
International press review: oral statement on Chairman Lee Man-hee at the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council
Official United Nations record
- UN Web TV, 17th meeting of the 63rd session, Item 3 general debate, 18 September 2026 https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k11/k118fegrj7
- The Geneva Times, republication of the statementhttps://www.thegenevatimes.news/2026/09/oral-statement-on-the-situation-of-chairman-lee-man-hee-in-pretrial-detention-in-the-republic-of-korea-general-debate-under-item-3-63rd-session-of-the-human-rights-council/
National and international media
- KBC, Kenya, 29 September 2026 https://www.kbc.co.ke/the-case-of-chairman-lee-man-hee-raised-before-the-unhcr/
- Citizen Digital, Kenya, 29 September 2026 https://citizen.digital/article/un-human-rights-council-hears-concerns-over-lee-man-hee-detention-n390991
- Business Mirror, Philippines, 4 October 2026 https://businessmirror.com.ph/2026/10/04/un-hears-concerns-over-detention-of-95-year-old-south-korean-church-leader/
- Fiji Village, Fiji, 7 October 2026 https://www.fijivillage.com/f/human-rights-concerns-raised-over-detention-of-95-year-old-religious-leader-d22356/
- MetroSeoul, Korea, 1 October 2026, with a photograph of Thierry Valle delivering the statement https://www.metroseoul.co.kr/article/20261001500119
- Simin24, Korea, 2 October 2026 http://simin24.com/?doc=news/read.htm&ns_id=152338
Aggregation and wire distribution
- Ground News aggregator, 29 September 2026, sourcing the original UgStandard story https://ground.news/article/rights-group-petitions-un-over-detention-of-95-year-old-korean-religious-leader-man-hee-lee
- Daily Star, Uganda, tag page on Lee Man-hee https://dailystar.co.ug/tag/lee-man-hee/
- openPR, press release by SCJ News, 29 September 2026 https://www.openpr.com/news/4647731/oral-statement-on-the-situation-of-chairman-lee-man-hee
- 24-7 Press Release, several releases between 30 September and 3 October 2026 https://www.24-7pressrelease.com/search_press_releases_by_tag?keywords=shincheonji
- Issuewire, 30 September 2026 https://www.issuewire.com/oral-statement-on-chairman-lee-man-hees-pretrial-detention-in-the-republic-of-korea-1877676831086120
- Newswire Online https://www.newswireonline.com/chairman-lee-man-hee-pretrial-detention-un-human-rights-council
- Newport Plain Talk, United States, 1 October 2026 (wire pickup) https://www.newportplaintalk.com/news/state/article_4259cb0f-0e7b-5757-bce2-481f97e2405d.html
- Advocate and Democrat, United States, 1 October 2026 (wire pickup) https://www.advocateanddemocrat.com/news/state/article_9a8b492b-6638-5d02-82f3-e2112afaff50.html
- MyMotherLode, United States, 1 October 2026 (wire pickup) https://markets.financialcontent.com/clarkebroadcasting.mymotherlode/article/247pressrelease-2026-10-1-oral-statement-on-the-situation-of-chairman-lee-man-hee-in-pretrial-detention-in-the-republic-of-korea-general-debate-under-item-3-63rd-session-of-the-human-rights-council
- FinancialContent, 1 October 2026 (wire pickup) https://markets.financialcontent.com/stocks/article/247pressrelease-2026-10-1-oral-statement-on-the-situation-of-chairman-lee-man-hee-in-pretrial-detention-in-the-republic-of-korea-general-debate-under-item-3-63rd-session-of-the-human-rights-council
Social media
- Instagram, repost by the Shincheonji community https://www.instagram.com/p/Dd8WY4eH37P/
- Facebook, Camnet TV Malawi, 6 October 2026 https://www.facebook.com/camnettv/posts/1710099610633642/
- Facebook, Revelation TV Zambia, 4 October 2026 https://www.facebook.com/revelationtvzambia/posts/1685523483587098/
- Facebook, Millennium TV Zambia, 5 October 2026 https://www.facebook.com/millenniumtvzm/posts/1652453786894508/
- Facebook, Kessben TV Ghana https://www.facebook.com/Kessbentv/posts/1614951070672213/
- Facebook, Times 360 Malawi (paid advertisement) https://www.facebook.com/Times360Malawi/posts/1475042284809025/
Video
- YouTube, video of the statement distributed by SCJ News, Melbourne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFdF4cvfSqE
Bitter Winter : https://bitterwinter.org/chairman-lee-a-september-voice-in-geneva-for-a-95-year-old-prisoner/
