HAC, Memorial ceremony of the late Gu Ji In…
‘Remember 9, remember and shout’
Human rights association for victims of coercive conversion programs (Representative Choi Ji Hae) Gwang Ju Jeon Nam branch urges the revision of the Punishment Law against coercive conversion pastors. There was 2nd memorial ceremony of the late Gu Ji In who were dead on last January 2018 due to Coercive conversion program. The theme of memorial service was 'Remember 9, remember and Shout.' And the service was held in the area of Geumnam-ro Park located in Dong-gu, Gwangju.
At memorial service which was hosted by HAC, 1,000 members of HAC, VIPs and citizens participated in and honored the deceased. In order to forcibly change person's religion to their denomination, kidnapping, assault, and confinement are engaged and human rights are violated. Before and after memorial service, HAC members carried out public relations activities to let citizen know the seriousness of coercive conversion program which is being held in the Republic of Korea which has freedom of religion guaranteed in the Constitution. In addition, an exhibition booth to inform the case of victims due to coercive conversion program and participation booth to write a memorial message were operated.
The majority of HAC members are victims of kidnapping, assault and confinement which was engaged by the family incited by coercive conversion pastors who belong to cult counseling center. Unfortunately, legal punishment for coercive conversion pastors has not been made yet.
The officials of HAC explained that "The reason why legal punishment is difficult is because coercive conversion pastors do not go to the front to evade the law. They hide behind the family and incite kidnapping, assault, confinement and intimidation. They use this way and force victims to sign 'Coercive Conversion Program Agreement'. And when it becomes a problem, they hand over all responsibility to the family."
According to the report on coercive conversion program case announced by Gwangju Jeonnam branch of HAC, total victims due to coercive conversion program from 2001 to 2019 is 1,534 which includes 861 assaults, 1280 intimidation, profanity and coercion, 1338 forced leave of absence, 1293 forced signatures, 109 forced sleeping pills, 682 tied-up, 977 abductions, 1121 confinement, 43 divorces, 13 forced hospitalization and 1 family death and 2 death.
At the ceremony, Jang Gae Hwang, the chairman of the board of unikoreafoundation emphasized that "The free will granted by God to human beings and the freedom of human rights granted by the nation to the people are the rights of individuals that no one can infringe. Nevertheless, we had to let Gu Ji In go away. The reason is she was not protected by families, society and the nation. And her human rights were ruthlessly trampled on."
A college student who watched the memorial service said "It is so shocking that a person is dead due to violation of human rights in Gwangju which is the city of human rights. I feel said that person who is my age lost her life due to religious issues in a country which has freedom of religion guaranteed. I hope our country and all citizens will come out again so that this tragedy will never happen again."
The late Gu Ji In imprisoned by her family for 44 days in a Catholic monastery and forced to take coercive conversion program. and In June 2017, she appealed for punishment of coercive conversion pastors and enactment of Religious Discrimination Act informing the fact regarding coercive conversion program posting online sinmungo.
In the same year which is 2017, on December of 29th, she was confined to a pension located in Hwa Sun Gun, Jeon Nam and forced to convert her religion. On 30th, due to assault engaged by her family, she was suffered from dyspnea and hospitalized. On 9th of Jan 2018, she died of hypoxic brain injury.
After the death of Gu Ji In, there were more than 140,000 people agreeing to enact the ban on coercive conversion on the Blue House petition bulletin board. The Blue House has suddenly deleted the petition because of petition includes identity of the victim and has not yet given an answer.
On the other hand, other countries are alerting and warning about the human rights abuses cased by coercive conversion program. Europe 'Freedom of Conscience' has officially announced a statement at the 41st United Nations Human Rights Council held in July last year regarding coercive conversion which has been engaged in Korea.
On the same month, at the Ministerial Conference on enhancing Freedom of Religion held at the State Department building, 15 major international NGOs criticized the Korean government for the same content. They pointed out that "The letter has been sent to President Moon Jane In calling for measures to eliminate coercive conversion program. Theological debate is religions freedom, but the kidnapping and confinement of people is an obvious crime."
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Coercive conversion must be eradicated. I'll do all I can to raise my voice and spread this news of Ms. Gu's death as far and wide as possible. Good article.
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