A court in Japan ordered the dissolution of the Unification Church in Japan following a government request prompted by the investigation into the 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The court cited manipulative fundraising and recruitment tactics that harmed followers and their families as the reason for the order. The church is considering appealing the decision.
The court ruled that the church had extensive and continuous problems that required a dissolution order, as it was unlikely to voluntarily reform. The Japanese branch of the church criticized the order as a violation of religious freedom and human rights. The church’s president accused the government of fabricating damages and denied being a malicious group.
The investigation into Abe’s assassination revealed long-standing ties between the church and Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The church, founded by Rev. Sun Myung Moon in 1954, has faced accusations of brainwashing and deceptive recruitment tactics in the past. The Japanese branch has been accused of pressuring followers to make excessive donations and purchase expensive goods.
The court decision was welcomed by lawyers representing those seeking damages from the church. They demanded an apology and compensation for all victims. The church has acknowledged past issues with excessive donations but claims to have improved compliance since 2009. The majority of the church’s worldwide funding reportedly comes from Japan, where followers are asked to pay for sins committed during Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.
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