Lee Man-hee, the founder and leader of Shincheonji Church of Jesus in South Korea, has been held in pre-trial detention.
The issue was raised on 18 September during the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva by CAP Liberté de Conscience, an organisation with consultative status at the United Nations.
The organisation raised concerns about the need for his continued detention, his health and the conditions in which he is being held, particularly during Seoul’s hot summer.
It also called on South Korean authorities to consider alternatives to detention, arrange an independent medical assessment and ensure a fair and impartial trial.
The case has received attention outside South Korea, including reports from international media.
For Fiji and other Pacific communities, the issue also raises questions about how older people in detention should be treated and how freedom of religion and human rights can be protected while respecting the law.
