11/08/2026
Can the State Be a Judge of Faith ? — Freedom of Religion Threatened Worldwide
In the first half of 2026, voices around the world are rising to denounce violations of religious freedom committed by government authorities. In South Korea, a 95-year-old religious leader was detained on charges unrelated to any acts of violence ; in Nicaragua, an 80-year-old Catholic bishop was arrested ; in Japan, a dissolution order targeting a religious organization was issued. All three cases have drawn criticism from governments, UN human rights experts, international human rights organizations, and academics for violating international human rights standards.
Standards Agreed Upon by the International Community
Freedom of religion is an established international norm codified in key agreements. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) guarantee freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, while Article 25 recognizes the right of all citizens, regardless of their religion, to participate in political life. Article 9 of the ICCPR specifies that pre-trial detention should not be the rule, and the UN Tokyo Rules mandate that detention be used only as a last resort. Furthermore, the UN Nelson Mandela Rules require humane treatment and appropriate access to medical care for anyone held in custody. From the presumption of innocence to state religious neutrality, international law has clearly defined the boundaries that state power must respect when addressing religious matters. The problem is that these boundaries are being crossed today in both authoritarian states and democracies alike.
South Korea — Detention of a 95-Year-Old Religious Leader
On June 24, in South Korea, Mr. Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old Chairman of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, was placed in pre-trial detention on charges including alleged violations of political party legislation. While authorities suspect he incited members to join a specific political party en masse, the Church maintains that this represented « the free political participation of believers » and affirms that it cooperated in good faith throughout the investigation process, including during searches and seizures. The Church also expressed deep regret, describing the arrest of a 95-year-old man as a « physical punishment » in practice.
During the annual conference of the European Academy of Religion (EuARe), held in Rome from June 30 to July 3, Dr. Massimo Introvigne, founder of the Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR), highlighted that « in EU member states, individuals over the age of 80 can be imprisoned only in extremely exceptional cases, » adding that « this detention constitutes a violation of international law, particularly the Mandela Rules. » Prior to this, international human rights organizations, including CAP-LC, submitted a joint written statement (A/HRC/62/NGO/236) to the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Council. They argued that labeling believers joining political parties as « collusion between religion and politics » violates the ICCPR, and that statements made by high-ranking officials regarding « criminal organizations » are incompatible with the principle of the presumption of innocence.
Nicaragua — Arrest of an 80-Year-Old Bishop with a Pacemaker
On June 29, in Nicaragua, Bishop Emeritus Juan Abelardo Mata Guevara, an 80-year-old who had consistently spoken out against religious persecution by the government, was arrested by police and transferred to a high-security prison. He is a cancer survivor fitted with a heart pacemaker. The US Department of State categorized the arrest as « arbitrary detention » and demanded his immediate and unconditional release. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), an international religious freedom organization, also urged authorities to end this harassment. Shortly after the US demand, Nicaraguan authorities announced he had been « sent home. » However, at the time of writing, neither his family nor those close to him have been able to confirm his location or safety status. CSW had previously reported that religious freedom violations by the Nicaraguan government reached 309 cases in 2025 alone. By detaining an elderly religious leader on grounds unrelated to any violence, this case mirrors the dynamic observed in South Korea.
Japan — Imminent Dissolution of a Religious Organization : UN Issues Warning
In March 2025, the Tokyo District Court issued a dissolution order against the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church), stripping it of its legal status. Last October, four UN Special Rapporteurs issued a joint statement warning that the vague concept of « public interest »—the basis for the dissolution—could lead to restrictions beyond what is permissible under the ICCPR. Despite this warning, Japan’s Supreme Court definitively upheld the dissolution order on June 23. Consequently, the religious body lost its tax-exempt status and entered liquidation proceedings. Unlike Nicaragua, Japan and South Korea are recognized democracies, illustrating that religious freedom violations are no longer confined to authoritarian regimes.
The State Cannot Be a Judge of Faith
What these three cases share is that the violations stem from governmental and judicial powers, and that the state’s harshest instruments of coercion—detention and dissolution—were deployed in matters involving no violence. International human rights organizations and academia speak with one voice in calling on the governments concerned to uphold international standards, apply strict proportionality checks regarding the detention of elderly individuals, and end the stigmatization of religious minorities. Only when verifiable evidence and due process—rather than public opinion or stigmatization—become the criteria for judgment can the rights of religious minorities be equally protected.
Can the state be a judge of faith ? — In 2026, this is the question the international community is asking as it observes these three nations.
Gabriel TIENOU
