What followed were discrimination and persecution, resulting in two deaths of female members and 6,000 cases of human rights violations that are ongoing today. Because of their religious affiliations with Shincheonji, members were faced with assault and verbal abuse by their own families, forced to resign from their jobs, denied treatment by hospitals, and rejected by facilities. In addition, 88-year old Chairman Lee of Shincheonji and five other Shincheonji leaders were arrested on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention Act despite the fact that Shincheonji did not intentionally spread the COVID-19 virus.