Religious Liberty, in Question as Shincheonji Event Cancellation Sparks Worries, in South Korea.
In a written statement presented to the Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council recently We highlighted an issue regarding religious freedom infringement linked to the Shincheonji Church, in South Korea.
A situation arose regarding a gathering scheduled for October 29th to 31st in the year 2024 at Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri Park, in Paju area in South Korea. Shincheonji is the group behind the event and has faced criticism for its beliefs in the past; however this time they obtained all the required permits and paperwork to use the venue legally. The event was expected to attract, about 100 000 attendees and involved a commitment of approximately $7 Million.
Issues, with procedures and unfair treatment
Even though the local authorities initially gave their approval, for the event with support from the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization and after undergoing safety reviews; it was suddenly called off on October 29 by Gyeonggi do Governor Kim Dong Yeon citing concerns, about provoking North Korea which seems doubtful especially when there were other large events taking place in the same area at the time.
The decision to cancel came after conservative Christian groups petitioning against Shincheonji labeled it as a “group sparking concerns, about acceptance and the governments reaction, to religious pressures.
Global Observations
The United States Commission, for International Religious Freedom has identified cases of discrimination against Shincheonji in the past as evidence of a systemic bias trend rather, than an isolated occurrence.
Urging for Action
The report presented by CAP LC to the Human Rights Council requests;
An, in depth inquiry, into the decision to cancel the Paju event
Efforts, by the government to stop discrimination, against minority groups
Compensating Shincheonji fairly for their setbacks
This situation emphasizes the line, between freedom and government power while also considering interactions between different religions. It emphasizes the importance of safeguards, for the rights of minority religious communities to gather and express themselves freely.
