European scholars urge a humane alternative to the pre-trial detention of 95-year-old Chairman Lee, head of the Shincheonji Church. As of August 19, no response from the Government has been received.
This initiative followed a press conference by Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF) on August 7 at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club. HRWF Associate Director Hans Noot read a petition addressed to the Republic of Korea Government, advocating for Chairman Lee to stand trial without custody, suggesting house arrest for elderly defendants accused of non-violent offenses.
After the reading, Hans Noot, along with other scholars and human rights advocates — Prof. Massimo Introvigne, Thierry Valle, Michael Langhans, and Dr. Márk Nemes — signed the petition. The document was delivered to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) in Seoul.
The press conference included representatives from Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), CAP Liberté de Conscience, the Forum for Religious Freedom Europe (FOREF), CESNUR, and Bitter Winter.
Statement to the Government of the Republic of Korea
“We, European scholars and human rights activists, submit this statement after meeting Chairman Lee Man-hee. We respect Korea’s democratic institutions but note that media portrayals of Shincheonji as a ‘cult’ often ignore academic research.
Korean laws on clergy political participation are notably restrictive. In the EU, pre-trial detention for elderly defendants is rare and typically involves violent charges. In similar cases, house arrest is preferred, consistent with the Mandela Rules and UN standards.
For humanitarian reasons and in line with international norms protecting older defendants, we request Chairman Lee’s release from custody to stand trial without detention.”
Signatories
- Hans Noot, Associate Director, Human Rights Without Frontiers
- Prof. Massimo Introvigne, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, CESNUR and Bitter Winter
- Thierry Valle, President, CAP Liberté de Conscience
- Michael Langhans, Executive Director, FOREF Germany
- Dr. Márk Nemes, Deputy Director, CESNUR
A Humanitarian and Due-Process Appeal
The petition does not request Korea to prejudge or disrupt judicial independence. It advocates for proceedings consistent with humanitarian considerations for a 95-year-old facing non-violent charges.
The appeal emphasizes pre-trial detention should not be punitive before a final judgment. Alternatives like house arrest should support dignity, health, and presumption of innocence. Presenting the petition to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea highlighted the case’s international significance.
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