In a statement issued in Bujumbura on 17 October 2026, AB3D urged South Korean authorities to assess the necessity and proportionality of continued detention, with particular attention to age, medical needs and fair-trial guarantees.
Human dignity must remain protected throughout a criminal case, including while allegations are being investigated and heard. This principle guides the Association Burundaise pour le Développement, la Démocratie et les Droits Humains (AB3D) in its appeal concerning the pre-trial detention of South Korean religious leader and peace advocate Chairman Lee Man-hee.
In its public statement, AB3D expressed concern about the continued detention of Lee, identified in the statement as 95 years old. The organization called for regular, individualized review of whether detention remains necessary and whether less restrictive measures could adequately address legitimate procedural risks.
AB3D’s position respects the independence of South Korea’s judiciary. It does not determine Lee’s guilt or innocence, endorse his religious beliefs, or seek to prejudge the proceedings. Its concern is the protection of fundamental rights throughout the judicial process.
Fair proceedings and the presumption of innocence
Criminal allegations require careful investigation, and courts must be able to reach decisions based on evidence and applicable law. AB3D recognizes the responsibility of South Korean authorities to carry out this work independently and effectively.
The presumption of innocence must also guide how an accused person is treated. Public controversy, religious affiliation and a prominent public profile should never replace an impartial assessment of the evidence.
For AB3D, protecting fair-trial rights includes ensuring that Lee can participate effectively in his defense and that public debate does not prejudge the outcome of the case.
Why continued detention requires careful review
AB3D’s principal concern is whether continued pre-trial detention remains justified in the individual circumstances of the case.
The organization’s statement draws on Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the United Nations Human Rights Committee’s General Comment No. 35. These provide the framework for its call to treat detention pending trial as an exceptional measure requiring specific justification.
Concerns such as flight, interference with evidence or recurrence of alleged offending may be relevant to judicial decisions. AB3D urges the competent authorities to assess such risks on concrete, individualized grounds and to review whether they continue to justify detention as proceedings advance.
Where appropriate, the organization calls for serious consideration of alternatives, including bail conditions, travel restrictions, residence requirements or other judicially supervised measures. The choice of any measure belongs to the competent authorities, informed by the full case file.
Taking age and medical needs seriously
Lee’s advanced age is central to AB3D’s humanitarian concern.
Age does not remove a person’s responsibility before the law. It does, however, warrant careful consideration when assessing detention conditions, access to care and the suitability of less restrictive arrangements.
AB3D therefore calls for an individualized, medically informed assessment of Lee’s health and any continuing treatment or assistance he may require. Decisions should take account of verified medical needs and avoid preventable harm to health, dignity or life.
Humane treatment is a responsibility throughout judicial proceedings, regardless of the allegations a person faces.
Religious freedom and equality before the law
AB3D also emphasizes the importance of protecting freedom of religion or belief while maintaining equality before the law.
Religious organizations and their members are subject to applicable laws. Allegations of unlawful conduct should be investigated on the basis of credible evidence. At the same time, religious identity should never become a reason for discrimination, stigmatization or adverse treatment.
Maintaining this balance protects both the integrity of law enforcement and the rights of individuals and communities.
A call for principled action
AB3D urges the competent South Korean authorities and judicial institutions to safeguard the presumption of innocence, regularly reassess the grounds for detention, consider appropriate alternatives, and ensure access to necessary medical care. It also calls on public institutions, political actors, civil society and the media to respect judicial independence and avoid statements that prejudge the proceedings.
From Bujumbura, AB3D raises these concerns as part of its commitment to human rights beyond national borders. Those rights are especially consequential in difficult and controversial cases, where public pressure can make consistent protection harder.
AB3D will continue to follow the matter with attention. Its appeal remains grounded in a clear principle: justice must protect human dignity at every stage of the process.
This article summarizes AB3D’s public statement of 17 October 2026. It does not constitute a finding concerning Lee Man-hee’s guilt or innocence.