A court in Japan has ordered the disbandment of the controversial Unification Church, which came under scrutiny after the shock killing of former prime minister Shinzo Abe in 2022.
The alleged assassin had confessed that he held a grievance against Abe because of the ex-leader’s ties with the church, that he blamed for bankrupting his family.
Japan’s education and culture ministry sought the church’s dissolution and accused it of manipulating followers into making huge donations and other financial sacrifices.
However, the church, which is now more well known as the” Moonies,” asserted that the donations were a part of legitimate religious practices. It has the right to challenge the decision from Tuesday.
The church will no longer be able to work in Japan as a result of the ruling by a Tokyo district court, which will make it do so in the absence of a tax exempt order.
Authorities discovered during their research that the temple allegedly coerced believers into purchasing pricey goods by exploiting concerns about their spiritual well-being.
Almost 200 people who claimed they were victims of the chapel were interviewed by them.
The Unification Church, which was founded in South Korea, has been in Japan since the 1960s. The moniker” Moonies” was derived from the name of Sun Myung Moon, the organization’s leader.
Before Abe’s death, it has sparked controversy because it claims that marriage is essential to religious salvation. It is renowned for hosting large marriage ceremonies where thousands of people are a part of the celebrations.
According to their attorneys, some 200 former believers who claimed they were forced to donate to the group have demanded compensations totaling 5.7 billion yen ($ 38.5 million ) since 2023.
Four ministers resigned as a result of close ties between the mysterious sect and several conservative ruling-party lawmakers, according to investigations that followed Abe’s assassination.
According to an internal investigation conducted by the Liberal Democratic Party, which was led by former prime minister Fumio Kishida, 179 of its 379 politicians had interacted with the Unification Church.
The ties spanned from going to church services to accepting gifts and winning vote help.
The nation was shocked by disclosures about the controversy surrounding the LDP and the controversial religion.