The Coordination des Associations et Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience (CAP LC), an international NGO with special consultative status at the United Nations, has submitted a joint written statement to the U.N. Human Rights Council expressing concern over the spread of discrimination and stigma against members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the church announced on July 9.
In its statement, CAP LC focused on the standards by which such matters are assessed, warning that negative perceptions and unverified materials originating in South Korea, if disseminated abroad, could seriously impact public opinion, administrative decisions, and judicial rulings in other countries. The group urged governments to base any decisions concerning Shincheonji Church of Jesus on verifiable evidence and clear legal standards.
CAP LC, which has previously raised cases involving the persecution of the Church of Almighty God in China and concerns over religious freedom violations related to Japan's request for a dissolution order against the Unification Church, said the controversy surrounding Shincheonji is not merely a domestic issue but one that implicates international human rights standards. The statement cited cases in the United Kingdom and German-speaking countries where negative perceptions have led to administrative proceedings and workplace discrimination.
In the UK, the Charity Commission rejected Shincheonji Church of Jesus' registration application, describing the church as a "cult"—a term without clear legal definition. CAP LC noted that using such terms in official procedures can produce strong social stigma. In Germany and other German-speaking countries, members have faced workplace discrimination amid negative sentiment driven by certain media and church figures, with a 2025 book by evangelical activists cited as a major factor.
Shincheonji Church of Jesus said these cases demonstrate that unfounded stigma and unverified claims are causing disadvantages for individual members in workplaces, families, and social lives. The church 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 church members' party membership constitutes "religion-politics collusion." CAP LC called on the South Korean government to uphold freedom of religion and non-discrimination. Amid these concerns, South Korea is investigating allegations related to church members' party membership. On June 24, an arrest warrant was issued for Chairman Lee Man-hee, and on June 29, the government indicted Lee on charges including violations of the Political Parties Act. Shincheonji maintains that the case should be handled according to due process and objective evidence, not social perceptions. The church also questioned the necessity of detaining a 95-year-old who has cooperated with the investigation.
Shincheonji Church of Jesus stated that the discrimination cases cited by CAP LC and the South Korean investigation raise a common question: what standards should state authorities apply when dealing with religious minorities? The church said the issue serves as a test of whether the rights of religious minorities are equally protected in domestic and international procedures, and that the international community is watching to see if legal grounds and due process are consistently upheld.
