International Community Condemns Religious Oppression in South Korea Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Strategic Insights -

The international community has issued a joint letter condemning the oppression of the Shincheonji Church in South Korea, despite the country's reputation for effective COVID-19 quarantine measures. The Coalition of Caribbean Leaders for Peace, consisting of former and current leaders in the Caribbean, including the former president of the United Nations Human Rights Council, sent a letter to South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on August 17th. The letter expresses concern about ongoing oppression against Shincheonji Church, a South Korea-based Christian denomination that suffered from an unexpected mass infection at the beginning of the year. The letter highlights the need for the South Korean government to take responsibility for the protection of human rights, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Coalition of Caribbean Leaders for Peace sent a joint letter to South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on August 17th, condemning the oppression of Shincheonji Church.
  • The letter expresses concern about ongoing oppression against Shincheonji Church, a South Korea-based Christian denomination that suffered from an unexpected mass infection at the beginning of the year.
  • The letter highlights the need for the South Korean government to take responsibility for the protection of human rights, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.
  • The letter points out that the South Korean government's silence about the current situation would set a dangerous global precedent for allowing similar persecution, violence, and harassment against other religious minorities.
  • The South Korean government is accused of scapegoating Shincheonji members for COVID-19, with 11 NGOs submitting an annual report to the UN Secretary-General titled 'Scapegoating Members of Shincheonji for COVID-19 in the Republic of Korea'.
  • The report by the European Coordination of Associations and Individuals for Freedom of Conscience (CAP-LC) highlights the inappropriately targeted discrimination against Shincheonji Church.
  • The letter references the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom's (USCIRF) report 'Factsheet on the global response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the impact on religious practice and religious freedom'.

Statistics:

  • COVID-19 was introduced to South Korea from China, with the virus already prevalent in the city of Daegu before the confirmation of Patient 31.
  • According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the government's refusal to close the border to China contributed heavily to the outbreak.

Sources:

  • Coalition of Caribbean Leaders for Peace
  • European Coordination of Associations and Individuals for Freedom of Conscience (CAP-LC)
  • United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)
  • United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
  • Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention