Religious leaders and academics say detention of the 95-year-old peace leader raises serious concerns over international human rights standards.
INTERNATIONAL : On July 21, TIM Empowerment Foundation (TIMEF) hosted a “Press Conference for Human Rights and Judicial Justice” at Hyderabad Press Club in India. Bringing together religious leaders, civil society organizations, and academic experts, the press conference was convened to call for adherence to the presumption of innocence and due process in the ongoing detention of Chairman Lee Man-hee of HWPL, an international peace NGO headquartered in South Korea, who also serves as Chairman of Shincheonji Church of Jesus. Shincheonji Church Chairman Lee Man-hee was taken into custody on June 24 on charges of violating the Political Parties Act. Participants shared their deep concern over whether the physical detention of a 95-year-old suspect prior to a final court verdict is consistent with the presumption of innocence, the principle of proportionality, and international human rights standards. In his opening address, TIMEF Founder and Chairman Dr. Mohammed Moinuddin Hasan Altaf stated that “every person deserves fairness, justice, and respect, regardless of nationality, religion, or background, and when questions arise about due process or human rights, civil society has a responsibility to speak peacefully and respectfully.” While stressing that “we respect the independence of the courts and are not here to influence the legal process or comment on the outcome,” he emphasized that “every person deserves a fair trial, the presumption of innocence, and due process under the law, and this is especially important when an elderly person who has spent many years serving society is involved.” Mr. Surya Rao, President of Telangana BC Samaj and Founder of BC Times, sharply criticized the situation, stating that “when someone tries to do good, the world always tries to bring them down – and that is exactly what is happening to Chairman Lee right now,” and that “when legal systems bend to the weight of public clamor rather than standing firm on unyielding, objective truth, justice dies.” He added that “discriminatory application of the law based on minority status must not be allowed, and this is not just a South Korean issue – if a democratic government can suppress a minority leader for political gain, then minority rights everywhere are on fragile ground,” and called for Chairman Lee’s immediate release and fair treatment. Dr. Gowd Kiran Kumar, National President of the All India OBC Students Association (AIOBCSA), cited the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), ratified by the Republic of Korea, to provide a legal basis for his concerns. He stated that “this matter is not about supporting a particular individual or organization – it is about legal principles and the rule of law,” and that “proceeding with custodial investigation while ignoring the presumption of innocence before a trial has even begun is a clearly unlawful act driven by political and public opinion pressures.” He urged the South Korean government to comply with its obligations under international law and called on the UN and the international community to actively intervene to secure Chairman Lee’s immediate and unconditional release. Prof. Anwar Khan, Professor of Sociology and Human Rights Scholar, stated that “all criminal proceedings must fully respect the principles of due process, necessity, proportionality, and human dignity.” He argued that pre-trial detention of a 95-year-old accused of non-violent offences “should be used only in exceptional cases where it is strictly necessary and consistent with international human rights standards,” and emphasized that “trust in the legal system comes not from political pressure or public opinion, but solely from objective evidence and due process.” He urged South Korean judicial authorities to deliver fair judgments in accordance with international human rights standards and the rule of law, stating that “justice is not a privilege for some, but a universal right of every human being.” Rev. Y. Srinu – President of the Independent Pastors Association and a minister with 23 years of experience – stated that “arresting and treating harshly a 95-year-old Korean War veteran who has dedicated his life to peace and social service – before any trial has taken place – is an act that damages South Korea’s own international reputation,” and strongly demanded the immediate cessation of the unjust custodial investigation. He delivered a petition bearing the signatures of 62 fellow pastors, pledging that “countless pastors across India will stand together in peaceful solidarity until the Korean government makes the right decision.” The press conference proceeded with an opening and welcome address, solidarity speeches, a media Q&A session, a joint petition and resolution signing ceremony, and an official photo session. At the signing ceremony, all those present at the venue signed a petition calling for Chairman Lee’s release. Participants pledged to continue raising their collective voice in solidarity with religious communities and civil society around the world until the South Korean government makes the right decision in accordance with the presumption of innocence and humanitarian standards. They also announced their intention to formally convey this matter to India’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and UN human rights bodies to sustain ongoing international attention.
