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 global spread of discrimination and stigma against members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. The statement, released on July 9, warns that negative perceptions and unverified materials originating in South Korea could influence public opinion, administrative rulings, 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 organization, which has previously raised issues before the UN including the persecution of the Church of Almighty God in China and religious freedom concerns related to Japan's request for a dissolution order against the Unification Church, emphasized that the case is not merely a domestic controversy but one that draws attention to international human rights standards.
The statement cited specific instances of discrimination in the United Kingdom and German-speaking countries. In the UK, the Charity Commission rejected Shincheonji Church of Jesus' application for registration, labeling the church a 'cult'—a term without a clear legal definition. CAP LC noted that using such terminology in official administrative procedures can produce strong social stigma. In Germany and other German-speaking countries, members have faced workplace discrimination fueled by negative sentiment from certain media outlets and church figures. A critical book published in 2025 by evangelical activists was identified as a major factor deepening discriminatory perceptions.
Shincheonji Church of Jesus said these cases demonstrate that unfounded stigma and unverified claims are causing 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.
The statement also addressed controversy in South Korea over political participation. CAP LC criticized claims by some political forces that church members' party membership amounts to 'religion-politics collusion,' arguing that political participation should not be treated as grounds for suspicion solely because those involved are members of a particular religion. The NGO called on the South Korean government to uphold freedom of religion, non-discrimination, and religious neutrality.
Meanwhile, 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 the case should be handled according to due process and objective evidence, rather than social perceptions or political controversy. The church also raised concerns about the necessity and proportionality of detaining Lee, who is 95 years old and has cooperated with the investigation.
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. The international community is watching the case to determine whether legal grounds and due process are consistently upheld, the church added.
For more information, visit Shincheonji Church of Jesus at https://www.shincheonji.org/en and SCJ TV at https://www.scjtvglobal.com.
