National Association of the Victims of Shincheonji slanders Chairman Man-hee Lee of Shincheonji Church with banners
“One who infringes on the rights of others through abuse of one's own 'freedom of expression' can become grounds for punishment”
“We must enact 'Hate Speech Law' to prevent hate and discrimination”
[Cheonji Ilbo = Reporter Kim Bit-na and Lee Woo-hyuk] According to the '2020 National Survey on Perception of Discrimination' released by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, 91.1% of the 1000 respondents said, 'I believe minorities can easily become a target of discrimination due to Covid-19."
At that time, an expert on Shincheonji Church of Jesus, The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji Church) said, "It is true that, even though Shincheonji's doctrine has nothing to do with the coronavirus, Shincheonji received far more criticism than necessary because they have been targeted a minority sect."
Societal perception of Shincheonji has been solidified by the established Church's 'two-stage cult-framing'. Even after the verdict of the first trial in which the court sentenced Chairman Lee to prison on charges of obstructing the work of health authorities, Chairman Lee was acquitted of these charges. Nevertheless, the victimisation of Shincheonji Church has provided a platform for protestors belonging to the National Association of the Victims of Shincheonji to curse and even wish death on Shincheonji Church's Chairman Man-hee Lee.
It is a well-known fact that many members of the National Association of the Victims of Shincheonji who follow the supposed 'expert advice' of the established Church, label the minority Shincheonji Church as 'bogus heretics'.
◆Lies disseminated through blended photos
Comprehensive investigations by Cheonji Ilbo on the 6th February found that members of the National Association of the Victims of Shincheonji hanged placards and banners near Suwon District Court and at the front gate of a residential property in Gyeonggi province where Shincheonji Church's Chairman Man-Hee Lee resides. They continue to slander Shincheonji and Chairman Lee.
Wherever they position themselves, the main content of their slander is centred on 'runaway children' or 'family breakdown', which they attribute to Chairman Lee's wrongdoing. In addition, they chant for the arrest of Chairman Lee, and maliciously disseminate charges of embezzlement or make direct accusations on his personal life. Protests feature coarsely synthesised photos and banners with provocative phrases.
On the 5th of last month, 'Member A' of the National Association of the Victims of Shincheonji who stood at the back exit of Suwon District Court, shouted, “Shincheonji - give me back my son and daughter right away," and slandered, saying, "Death to the head of Shincheonji." On a particular banner read the words, "Judge Mi-kyung Kim of the 1st Criminal Division, I'm pleading with you to find my daughter who has left home for Shincheonji. Please punish this perpetrator severely."
On the 29th of last month, 'Member B' of the National Association of the Victims of Shincheonji, hung a banner outside the front door of an apartment in Gyeonggi province with the words, "Why has the head of Shincheonji, the self-proclaimed 'saviour' of this era, embezzled 5.6 billion KRW?"
On a small banner read the words, "Shincheonji's 'Saviour Lee ***' is a religious conman who should receive a 3 or 4-year prison sentence for embezzling 5.6 billion KRW. Let it be done."
They also posted small placards and banners outside the front door of the same apartment on the 3rd, and continued making personal accusations against Chairman Lee with provocative phrases including, "The youth of Shincheonji have been deceived by the false hope of gaining eternal life in the flesh", and,`"Shincheonji is a place which encourages the young to flee from home."
On the 1st, they hung a banner outside Exit 3 of Yeongdeungpo Station with the accusation, "Arrest the conman right away." It was also written, "Shincheonji's Lee ** destroys families and will live forever in a prison cell."
One banner read:-
“Please dismantle Shincheonji, a fraudulent group that is destroying our country, society, and the family of our beloved President; all people (51.7 million) are longing for this", and, “Please return my beloved daughter, who left home 7 years ago.”
◆“The reason why some youth leave home is due to coercive conversion, not Shincheonji”
◆“The reason why some youth leave home is due to coercive conversion, not Shincheonji”
Regarding the runaway of some protestors' children, which is the main driver behind their slander, Suwon District Prosecutors said in both 2007 and 2014 that Shincheonji had committed no wrongdoing. During the trial, it was revealed that child runaways belong to parents who violated their own child's basic rights through coercive conversion.
In addition, the 'guilty' sentence given to Chairman Man-hee Lee for embezzlement of Shincheonji funds at the trial is false, and the church has maintained that it will fight for the truth through second and third trials. Despite this, members of the National Association of the Victims of Shincheonji continue to speak publicly, promoting a culture of hatred and discrimination towards Shincheonji.
How do Shincheonji Church believers feel when they witness the slanderous protests by the National Association of the Victims of Shincheonji members?
The slander by the National Association of the Victims of Shincheonji members disregards the basic rights of 250,000 Shincheonji Church believers. However, there are no existing sanctions on hate crimes towards minorities.
A believer of Shincheonji Church - 'Member C' (Anyang city, Gyeonggi province, Nam district) who frequently witnessed protests by Jeonpiyeon members - said, "It is very painful to see peoples' perceptions of Shincheonji being poisoned by unjustified hatred and discrimination."
In reference to witnessing their protest, this church member said, "I don't think I could possibly curse like they do unless I was possessed by an evil spirit", adding, “Chairman Man-hee Lee is the shepherd promised by Jesus. If one continues to slander Jesus' promised shepherd, I am concerned that Jesus' own righteousness will also be labelled a lie.”
An official from Shincheonji Church said, “If the National Association of the Victims of Shincheonji continues to conduct illegal behaviour such as dissemination of false information and defamation, we will no longer tolerate it and take legal action.”
◆ Law expert: “Grounds for defamation”
Experts have pointed out that these defamatory protests are "an abuse of one's freedom of expression".
In a phone call with Cheonji Ilbo, Sang-gyeom Kim, professor of law at Dongguk University, said, "If someone feels they have been defamed, it can become grounds for defamation. Defamation is damage of one's 'personal rights', including one's financial and psychological wellbeing."
Mr. Kim explained that Chairman Man-Hee Lee is a common individual: "A famous person can be misunderstood for a public figure, but a public figure is someone who performs public affairs. Celebrities, megachurch pastors and Samsung Vice Chairman Jae-yong Lee are all common individuals."
Professor Kim emphasised, "If the rights or interests of others are violated due to one's abuse of one's own freedom of expression, then this individual can be held liable."
◆“Prevention of blame and hatred is true freedom of expression”
◆“We must change 'discrimination and hate within society' through public education and law”
One expert in human rights discrimination cases pointed out that 'vested interests are suppressing the freedom of minorities.'
Kim Ji-hak, director of the Korea Diversity Research Institute, said in a call with Cheonji Ilbo, "If you accuse and hate minorities while speaking about 'freedom of expression', your freedom of expression will lose credibility. Rather than guaranteeing freedom, it should be viewed as suppressing freedom of expression.”
At the same time, he argued that, "the true meaning of 'freedom of expression' prevents the powers of the dominant majority from saying, 'I'm a Protestant, I'm normal, and you're Shincheonji, so you're abnormal'". Director Kim also stressed that the media should be cautious about expressing the way minorities are suppressed.
He added, “Media reports that use expressions that suppress minorities will eventually infringe on the freedom of expression of minorities."
◆“We must change 'discrimination and hate within society' through public education and law”
There were also voices calling for a change in today's oppression, discrimination and hate of minorities through slander, via a reform within public education and law.
Director Kim Ji-hak emphasised, "A society meshed with discrimination and hate must be made anew through reform of public education and the media. Moreover, politicians must step forward to enact laws and strive to create a society free from discrimination and hate."
He added, “There are groups in society who are unable to distinguish the 'others' from 'I' and are really lacking in acknowledging the difference. We should legislate 'Hate Speech Law' to change the thoughts of hateful groups.”
Source: bit.ly/36KqFKg
Why do they lie like that?
ReplyDeleteWhat do they get by doing that?