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| Japan court orders controversial 'Moonies' church to disband | Japan court orders controversial 'Moonies' church to disband |
| (33 minutes later) | |
| The Unification Church, which started in South Korea, has established a presence in Japan since the 1960s | The Unification Church, which started in South Korea, has established a presence in Japan since the 1960s |
| 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. | 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 - he blamed the church 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. | 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. |
| But the church, more popularly known as the "Moonies", argued that the donations were part of legitimate religious activities. It can appeal to overturn Tuesday's ruling. | |
| The order handed down by a Tokyo district court will strip the church of its tax-exempt status and require it to liquidate its assets, but it will still be allowed to operate in Japan. | The order handed down by a Tokyo district court will strip the church of its tax-exempt status and require it to liquidate its assets, but it will still be allowed to operate in Japan. |
| During their investigation, authorities found that the church coerced followers into buying expensive items by exploiting fears about their spiritual well-being. | During their investigation, authorities found that the church coerced followers into buying expensive items by exploiting fears about their spiritual well-being. |
| They interviewed nearly 200 people who said they were victimised by the church. | They interviewed nearly 200 people who said they were victimised by the church. |
| The Unification Church, which was started in South Korea, has established a presence in Japan since the 1960s. The name "Moonies" was derived from the name of its founder, Sun Myung Moon. | The Unification Church, which was started in South Korea, has established a presence in Japan since the 1960s. The name "Moonies" was derived from the name of its founder, Sun Myung Moon. |
| It has drawn controversy even before Abe's assassination for teaching that marriage is central to spiritual salvation. It is known for holding mass wedding ceremonies involving thousands of couples. | It has drawn controversy even before Abe's assassination for teaching that marriage is central to spiritual salvation. It is known for holding mass wedding ceremonies involving thousands of couples. |
| Since 2023, some 200 former believers who said they were forced to donate to the group have demanded compensations amounting to 5.7 billion yen ($38.5m) in total, according their lawyers. | Since 2023, some 200 former believers who said they were forced to donate to the group have demanded compensations amounting to 5.7 billion yen ($38.5m) in total, according their lawyers. |
| Investigations following Abe's assassination revealed close ties between the secretive sect and many conservative ruling-party lawmakers, leading to the resignation of four ministers. | Investigations following Abe's assassination revealed close ties between the secretive sect and many conservative ruling-party lawmakers, leading to the resignation of four ministers. |
| An internal investigation by former prime minister Fumio Kishida's Liberal Democratic Party found that 179 of its 379 lawmakers had interacted with the Unification Church. | An internal investigation by former prime minister Fumio Kishida's Liberal Democratic Party found that 179 of its 379 lawmakers had interacted with the Unification Church. |
| The relationships ranged from attending church events to accepting donations and receiving election support. | The relationships ranged from attending church events to accepting donations and receiving election support. |
| The revelations about the extent and level of involvement of the controversial church and the LDP shocked the nation. | The revelations about the extent and level of involvement of the controversial church and the LDP shocked the nation. |