CALLS FOR HELP
It would be the third religious group ordered to disband in Japan – another being the Aum Shinrikyo cult, which released a deadly nerve agent on the Tokyo subway 30 years ago.
Aum eventually declared bankruptcy, but its two successor groups continue to operate in the country.
The Unification Church – officially the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification – was founded in 1954.
It rose to global prominence in the 1970s and 80s, becoming famous for mass weddings often held in stadiums.
Its affiliate groups have secured addresses from Donald Trump and Japan’s Abe, who was not a member of the church or its sub-groups but made a video speech at a 2021 event.
The man accused of killing Abe is 44-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, whose mother is said to have donated 100 million yen to the Unification Church in total.
Yamagami, now in pre-trial detention, could face the death penalty if convicted.
He has reportedly attempted suicide in the past, while his brother took his own life.
Their uncle has described receiving calls for help from Yamagami when his mother left her children alone and without food to attend church.
Since Abe’s murder, the church has pledged to prevent “excessive” member donations.
“ISOLATED”
Japan has long been a financial hub for the Unification Church, which tells members they must atone for the wartime occupation of Korea and sells expensive items to grant forgiveness from sins.
A man whose parents are members told a recent lawyers’ gathering that his family could not afford school equipment or even sometimes to run a bath.
He was told not to interact with “satanic” non-members and felt “lonely and isolated”. He said his brother took his own life last year after suffering mental health problems.
It could take up to a year for the dissolution order to be finalised if the church appeals.
Lawyers warn the group could transfer its financial assets elsewhere, partly due to a 2023 bill approved by the ruling party that critics say takes a light touch on financing.
“They’ve been sending tens of billions of yen every year to their South Korean headquarters,” said Abe.
He and other lawyers are calling for stronger legislation so that money can be returned to victims.
Liquidating the church’s assets will be a daunting job, Abe warned.
“There is a big question as to how many years the liquidation process will take … and whether it will go smoothly,” he said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
