Staff Correspondent

Legal experts, civil society representatives, educators, youth leaders, and journalists gathered in Dhaka on Saturday to discuss the protection of religious minorities, the observance of due process, and human rights concerns regarding pre-trial detention.

The event, titled the "Media Forum for the Protection of Religious Minorities, Human Rights and Justice," was hosted by the Bangladesh Bouddha Kristi Prachar Sangha Youth at the Kobi Sufia Kamal Auditorium inside the Bangladesh National Museum.

Organizers designed the symposium to highlight universal human rights, judicial fairness, and the protection of elderly detainees, using the pre-trial detention of Lee Man-hee—Chairman of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus and Chairman of the South Korea-based international NGO Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL)—as a focal international case study.

Delivering the opening briefing on the background and current situation, Zahidul Islam, Editor of Bangladesh Television (BTV), cited Chairman Lee's involvement in facilitating the 2014 Mindanao peace agreement in the Philippines as a prominent example of interfaith reconciliation.

Addressing media ethics, Islam cautioned journalists against replacing the judicial system by declaring accused individuals socially guilty prior to court verdicts. He urged reporters to distinguish verified facts from allegations and present legal proceedings in a balanced manner.

Prof. Dr. Abdul Awal Khan, Professor of Law at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), emphasized key international standards, including the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Mandela Rules) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Dr. Khan stressed that pre-trial detention must remain an exception rather than the norm under international human rights law, adding that judicial integrity is tested by how consistently due process is applied to minority groups and unfamiliar communities.

Brahmanda Pratap Barua, President of the Bangladesh Bouddha Kristi Prachar Sangha Youth, shared his experience meeting Chairman Lee at an HWPL peace event and noted Lee's long-standing advocacy for global peace.

Barua stated that while courts must independently determine legal charges based on evidence, fundamental rights—including the presumption of innocence, proportionality of detention, and health considerations for elderly individuals—must be fully respected. He added that human rights only retain universal value when equal standards are applied across different faiths and viewpoints.

Mobarak Hossain, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Youth Educational Foundation (BYEF), invoked principles of justice to argue that legal protections should not fluctuate based on personal preference or shared belief. Hossain urged news organizations to evaluate high-profile cases through three fundamental questions -what are the verified facts? ; is due process being respected? and are the measures proportionate ?

Following the presentations, participants read a joint statement advocating for strict adherence to due process, the presumption of innocence, a review of pre-trial detention proportionality, and equal protection for religious minorities. The program concluded with a media Q&A and individual interviews.

A representative of the organizing committee confirmed that the joint statement will be formally submitted to United Nations human rights bodies and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Bangladesh to encourage ongoing international attention to rule-of-law standards.